Study of the protective role of Zn in cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells subjected to pro-inflammatory conditions using transcriptomics and mass spectrometry

•Differential gene expression and Zn elemental & isotopic composition are investigated.•0.03 ‰ precisions for δ66Zn were reached in 20 μg/L solutions & dry plasma conditions.•At RNA level, pro-inflammatory events resulted in strong immune & cytokine responses.•Inflammation demonstrated to lead to a lighter Zn isotopic composition.