Asian Journal of Immunology

The Importance of the Variability of Leucocyte Zinc Transporter 8 (ZnT8) Gene Expression

Sławomir Tubek *

Clinical Department of Emergency Medicine, University Hospital, Collegium Medicum, Institute of Medical Sciences, Opole University, Poland.

Zenon Brzoza

Clinic of Allergology, Endocrinology, Diabetology and Internal Diseases, University Hospital, Collegium Medicum, Institute of Medical Sciences, Opole University, Poland.

Renata Szyguła

Department of Health Sciences, Collegium Medicum, Opole University, Poland.

Monika Wierzbicka

Department of Health and Physical Culture Sciences, Collegium Witelona, Legnica, Poland.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

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Abstract

The variability of ZnT8 expression in leukocytes develops in patients with a genetic predisposition to this condition and it decreases with age. Greater intercellular zinc accumulation may potentially provoke increased levels of its expression, as a support mechanism in zinc homeostasis. The occurrence of ZnT8 antibodies (ZnT8A) may result in leukocyte dysfunction, which is dependent i.a. on the level of ZnT8 expression. The same correlation can be observed in non-pancreatic tissues. ZnT8A occur in approximately 16.5% of research participants without any diabetes symptoms and the frequency of their occurrence decreases with age as well. The occurence of variability of ZnT8 expression in leukocytes and other tissues, and the occurrence of ZnT8A may be connected with development of autoimmune processes, not only such as diabetes mellitus t. 1.

Keywords: ZnT8 gene expression, leucocytes, ZnT8 antibodies

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