title: Co-localization of the zinc transporter ZnT8 (slc30A8) with ghrelin and motilin in the gastrointestinal tract of pigs.
abstract: Zinc is an important co-factor for insulin storage in pancreatic β-cells of different species and the uptake of this ion into insulin containing secretory vesicles is managed by the zinc transporter, ZnT8, a member of the slc30A gene family. Recent studies indicate that this protein is a major autoimmune target in human type 1A diabetes and has also been implicated by genome-wide association studies in type 2 diabetes. Since individuals suffering from type 1 diabetes often develop gastrointestinal motility disorders, we investigated the expression of ZnT8 in the porcine gastrointestinal tract. For this purpose, we studied the cell-type specific expression of ZnT8 in the gut and its co-expression with endocrine hormones that are closely linked to intestinal motility regulation. Nested RT-PCR and immunostaining of sequential serial sections, as well as double-immunostaining using antibodies directed against ZnT8, ghrelin, motilin, neurotensin, serotonin and glucagon-like peptide 1, indicated that ZnT8 is co-localized with ghrelin and motilin. Our findings provide important information about the cell-type specific expression of ZnT8 in the porcine gastrointestinal system. The selective and exclusive expression of ZnT8 in two endocrine cell-types that are engaged in motility functions may be of particular interest for further investigations into type I diabetes-associated gastrointestinal dysfunctions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany. markus.schweiger@uni-hohenheim.de.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schweiger
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steffl
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Werner M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Amselgruber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000378:metabolism; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D009037:Motilin / Q000378:metabolism*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D054439:Ghrelin; D009037:Motilin