In 2004, we found that STAT3-Liv1/Zip6 zinc transporter cascade regulates epithelial-meschencym transition during zebrafish gastrulation (Yamashita et al, Nature, 2004). This finding let us initiate the new project concering cytokine/growth factor and zinc transporter, resulting in the finding that zinc acts like signaling molecule. Here, we report that dendritic cell maturation is associated with a decrease of intracellular free zinc through the change of expression profile of zinc transportes and this decrease of free zinc is required for DC maturation. This suggests that zinc acts as a signlaing molecule capable of transmitting extracellular stimuli into the intracellular signaling events.
Kitamura, H., H. Morikawa, H. Kamon, M. Iguchi, S. Hojyo, T. Fukada, S. Yamashita, T. Kaisho, S. Akira, M. Murakami and T. Hirano. Toll-like receptor-mediated regulation of zinc homeostasis influences dendritic cell function. Nature Immunol.7:971-977, 2006 (Published online: 6 August 2006; | doi:10.1038/ni1373) (Research Highlights in Nature, 17 August 2006 Nature 442, 722, 2006) (RIKEN RESEARCH September Vol.1 No. 3) (PubMed)
