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Atomic Absorbance Spectroscopy to Measure Intracellular Zinc Pools in Mammalian Cells
Published on: May 16, 2019
Prolonged impairment of polymorphonuclear cells functions in one infant with transient zinc deficiency: a case report
1Charles University in Prague, First Faculty of Medicine and General Teaching Hospital, Department of Paediatrics, Prague, Czech Republic.
Insights
Zinc deficiency in infants can impair immune cell function, specifically polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs), for an extended period. This study highlights the lasting effects of zinc deficiency on infant immunity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Zinc is vital for immune function, and deficiency impairs antibody and cell-mediated responses.
- While lymphopenia and thymic atrophy are known signs, PMN function in infant zinc deficiency is understudied.
- This study examines immunological aspects of transient zinc deficiency in an infant with severe lactogenic acrodermatitis enteropathica.
Observation:
- Immunological analyses were conducted over 28 months in an infant with zinc deficiency.
- Evaluations included oxidative burst of PMNs and immunoglobulin levels using various assays.
- The infant presented with skin lesions and immunological abnormalities.
Findings:
- A prolonged impairment of PMN respiratory burst and hypogammaglobulinaemia were observed starting at 2.5 months.
- Skin lesions resolved rapidly within 9 days of zinc therapy.
- Impaired PMN respiratory burst persisted until 23 months of age, despite clinical improvement.
Implications:
- Zinc deficiency can cause long-term functional deficits in PMNs.
- This highlights the critical role of zinc in maintaining infant immune competence.
- Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for preventing lasting immune system damage.
Background:
Zinc is an essential trace element for the immune system. The zinc deficiency diminishes antibody- and cell-mediated responses in man. Lymphopenia and thymic atrophy are usually the early hallmarks of zinc deficiency. Surprisingly, only scarce data are available about polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) functions in infants with zinc deficiency. We present the results of immunological analyses in one infant with transient zinc deficiency due to decreased zinc concentration in mother milk resulting in severe lactogenic acrodermatitis enteropathica.
Material/Methods:
Nine repeated examination of oxidative burst of PMNs and immunoglobulin levels using nitroblue tetrazolium dye test, chemiluminescence, flow cytometry and nephelometry were performed in the infant with severe zinc deficiency during 28 months period.
Results:
The unusual prolonged but transient impairment of PMNs respiratory burst accompanied with hypogammaglobulinaemia developed since the age of 2.5 months. Dramatic improvement of the skin was observed within days with total resolution of skin lesions on the 9th day of zinc therapy, but decreased PMNs respiratory burst persisted until the age of 23 months.
Conclusions:
We conclude that zinc deficiency may lead to prolonged impairment of polymorphonuclear cells functions and hypogammaglobulinaemia.
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