Zinc transporters in physiology and pathophysiology

Zinc is one of the essential trace elements required by humans, and its deficiency impairs zinc homeostasis, thereby affecting growth, the skin barrier, and the immune response. It also serves as a cofactor for many transcription factors and enzymes, and its levels are precisely regulated by zinc mediators, such as transporters. Zinc transporters control extracellular and intracellular zinc levels by influx and efflux via ZIP and ZnT family members, respectively. Recent investigations clearly indicate that zinc transporters are involved in a number of physiological events and disease statuses. Zinc ions act as a signaling factor, producing a “zinc signal,” and alterations in zinc signaling may result in “zinc stress” in cells. Here, we provide an overview of the relevance of zinc signaling and zinc stress to biological processes, and review the progress of zinc transporter-related studies and disorders of dermis and epidermis of the skin.