SLC30A1 encodes zinc transporter 1 (ZnT1), a zinc:proton antiporter functioning primarily in cellular zinc efflux to prevent intracellular zinc toxicity 1. The protein localizes to the basolateral membrane of intestinal epithelial cells, where it critically regulates systemic zinc homeostasis 1. Beyond zinc transport, SLC30A1 exhibits dual functionality, mediating copper uptake and facilitating cuproptosis through a shared binding site with zinc 2. In macrophages, SLC30A1 regulates endosomal zinc levels to control endocytosis of toll-like receptor 4 and PD-L1, thereby modulating inflammation and immunosuppression 3. At the molecular level, zinc binding at critical residues (His43, His237, Asp47) inhibits caspase-1 and caspase-4/5/11, suppressing inflammasome activation and pyroptotic cell death 4. Somatic SLC30A1 mutations near the zinc-binding site cause aldosterone-producing adenomas through pathological sodium influx and aberrant calcium channel activation 5. Clinically, SLC30A1 dysfunction associates with enhanced susceptibility to inflammatory diseases and certain malignancies. High SLC30A1 expression correlates with worse survival in cervical carcinoma 6, while zinc supplementation and SLC30A1 inhibition show therapeutic potential in inflammation-associated tumors, sepsis, psoriasis, and Alzheimer's disease 43.