Biomaterial Database

Zinc uptake and metabolism by hepatocytes. 1986

S E Pattison, and R J Cousins

Hepatocytes are in a dynamic equilibrium with the plasma zinc supply. Kinetic analysis of zinc uptake by isolated rat liver parenchymal cells defines two intracellular pools. In one pool zinc is bound relatively weakly and equilibrates rapidly with the medium at 37 degrees C. In the other pool zinc is bound tightly and interacts with the medium slowly at 37 degrees C. Of the two intracellular pools, the slower responding component represents an exchange process with the bulk of total cell zinc. The slow phase of uptake is saturable with albumin in the medium. The smaller pool is in rapid equilibrium with the medium and represents a labile zinc pool that accounts for net zinc accumulation. Both intracellular pools respond to hormonal stimuli. The factors that augment the uptake/exchange of zinc, namely glucocorticoids, glucagon, epinephrine, and dibutyryl cyclic AMP, are also those that stimulate metallothionein gene expression in hepatocytes. Changes in zinc flux into intracellular pools are directly related to the metallothionein content of hepatocytes. Characteristics of the labile zinc pool suggest that it may serve as an initial intermediate in zinc metabolism by hepatocytes as well as more general aspects of liver function related to zinc.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D008668	Metallothionein	A low-molecular-weight (approx. 10 kD) protein occurring in the cytoplasm of kidney cortex and liver. It is rich in cysteinyl residues and contains no aromatic amino acids. Metallothionein shows high affinity for bivalent heavy metals.	Isometallothionein,Metallothionein A,Metallothionein B,Metallothionein I,Metallothionein II,Metallothionein IIA
D006728	Hormones	Chemical substances having a specific regulatory effect on the activity of a certain organ or organs. The term was originally applied to substances secreted by various ENDOCRINE GLANDS and transported in the bloodstream to the target organs. It is sometimes extended to include those substances that are not produced by the endocrine glands but that have similar effects.	Hormone,Hormone Receptor Agonists,Agonists, Hormone Receptor,Receptor Agonists, Hormone
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001692	Biological Transport	The movement of materials (including biochemical substances and drugs) through a biological system at the cellular level. The transport can be across cell membranes and epithelial layers. It also can occur within intracellular compartments and extracellular compartments.	Transport, Biological,Biologic Transport,Transport, Biologic
D015032	Zinc	A metallic element of atomic number 30 and atomic weight 65.38. It is a necessary trace element in the diet, forming an essential part of many enzymes, and playing an important role in protein synthesis and in cell division. Zinc deficiency is associated with ANEMIA, short stature, HYPOGONADISM, impaired WOUND HEALING, and geophagia. It is known by the symbol Zn.