The Expression Of Zinc Transporters In Epidermis Of Patients With Atopic Dermatitis And Ichthyosis Vulgaris

BACKGROUND Zinc transporters, which involve in transmembranous zinc trafficking, have been found in various human tissues but not in epidermis yet. The relationship of zinc transporters and skin barrier function had not been studied.OBJECTIVE The expression of zinc transporters in human epidermis of patients with ichthyosis vulgaris (IV) and atopic dermatitis (AD) was examined. The relationship between the expression of zinc transporters and skin barrier function was assessed.METHODS Skin sample was obtained from patients of IV group, AD group and normal control. Four kinds of zinc transporters were examined by immunochemistry. The expression of all 23 kinds of zinc transporter mRNAs found in other human tissue was examined in human epidermis by RT-PCR. The expression of 12 of 23 kinds of zinc transporter mRNAs was quantified by realtime PCR and analyzed using Stat 11.0. Difference was considered statistically significant at P<0.05.RESULTS Twelve kinds of zinc transporter mRNAs and 4 kinds of zinc transporter proteins expressed in human epidermis. Within normal group, ZnT9 mRNA expressed more abundantly in female (P<0.05), ZIP1 mRNA expressed more abundantly in the group of age between 21-33 years old than in the group of age older than 33 years old. ZnT9 mRNA expressed more abundantly in abnormal barrier function group than in normal group (P<0.05). Matched pairs in gender and age, ZnT9 mRNA expression was more abundant in AD group than in normal group (P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS There was abundant expression of at least 12 kinds of zinc transporters in human epidermis from stratum basele to granulose. ZnT9 and ZIP1 may involve in skin barrier maintenance and ZnT9 may also have some relationship with skin inflammation.