Metallothionein‐2A mRNA in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Reflects Dietary Zinc Intake in Healthy Adults
Abstract
Zinc is an essential nutrient for humans;however, a sensitive biomarker to assess zinc status has not been identified. Metallothionein(MT)‐1 and –2 are ubiquitously expressed proteins that bind cellular zinc with high affinity. MT expression is induced through binding of zinc to metal‐regulatory transcription factor 1, which then binds to metal‐responsive elements in the promoter of the metallothionein gene. The objective of this study was to determine whether expression of MT1 and/or MT2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) is associated with dietary zinc intake in healthy human adults. Forty‐three male and female volunteers (33.6 ± 14.3 y, BMI 25.6 ±2.86 kg/m2) completed a Block Food Frequency Questionnaire (v. 2014)to assess habitual dietary zinc intake. Blood was collected and plasma and PBMCs were isolated. RNA was isolated from PBMCs and expression of MT1A and MT2A mRNA was determined by RT‐qPCR. Plasma MT2A protein was determined by ELISA and plasma zinc concentration was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Average daily zinc intake was 15.5 ± 7.44 mg/d (range: 4.89‐31.7mg/d). Plasma zinc concentration (10.8 ± 1.01 μmol/L) did not reflect dietaryzinc intake (r=0.0890; P=0.586). PBMC MT2Aexpression was 9‐fold greater than MT1A (11.5E‐3± 0.0127, 1.30E‐3 ± 0.00527; PMT1Aexpression in PBMCs was not correlated with dietary zinc intake (r=0.137; P=0.383). MT2A expression in PBMCs was positively correlated with dietary zinc intake (r= 0.302; P20 mg zinc/d, 15.4E–3 ± 0.0114; PMT2A mRNA in PBMCs reflects dietary zinc intake in healthy adults and may be a component in determining zinc status.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2017
- Source ID
- 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.459.3
Entities
People
- Alyssa M. Kelley
- Bradley J. Anderson
- Claire E Berryman
- Holly L. Mcclung
- J Philip Karl
- James P. Mcclung
- Nicholes J. Armstrong
- Stephen R Hennigar
Organizations
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
- United States Army Medical Research and Development Command
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine