The critical role of the zinc transporter Zip2 (SLC39A2) in ischemia/reperfusion injury in mouse hearts

Although zinc homeostasis has been demonstrated to play a role in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, the roles of zinc transporters that are critical for zinc homeostasis in I/R injury are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to test if Zip2, an important zinc importer, plays a role in I/R injury in mouse hearts and explore the mechanism by which Zip2 expression is regulated. Zip2 expression was increased at reperfusion in in vivo mouse hearts, an effect that was abolished by ZnCl2, indicating Zip2's attempt to compensate for zinc loss at reperfusion. Further studies showed that upregulation of Zip2 expression was reversed by either pharmacological or genetic inhibition of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3), whereas STAT3 overexpression increased Zip2 expression, indicating that STAT3 accounts for Zip2 upregulation. In support, reperfusion enhanced STAT3 phosphorylation (Tyr705), which was blocked by ZnCl2, implying that STAT3 is activated in response to zinc loss. To determine the role of Zip2 in I/R injury, we assessed I/R injury by genetically disrupting Zip2 expression. Knockout of Zip2 genes (Zip2+/- and Zip2-/-) exacerbated I/R injury by increasing infarct size as well as the serum LDH, troponin I (cTnI), and CK-MB activities. In contrast, delivery of Zip2 genes reduced I/R injury. Delivery of STAT3 genes increased STAT3 phosphorylation and reduced I/R injury. However, delivery of the dominant negative STAT3 mutant did not reduce I/R injury. Moreover, delivery of STAT3 genes failed to reduce I/R injury in Zip2-/- mice. Zip2 upregulated upon reperfusion via STAT3 is cardioprotective and this upregulation may serve as an important intrinsic protective mechanism by which the heart is resistant to I/R injury. The factors involved in the zinc homeostasis (zinc and Zip2) are responsible STAT3 activation and its subsequent cardioprotective action.