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Serum thymulin in human zinc deficiency
A S Prasad1, S Meftah, J Abdallah
1Department of Medicine, Harper-Grace Hospital, Detroit, Michigan.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation
|October 1, 1988
Summary
Mild zinc deficiency reduces serum thymulin activity, a thymic hormone crucial for T cell function. Zinc supplementation corrects this deficiency, highlighting zinc
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Nutrition Science
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Thymulin, a thymic hormone, requires zinc for its activity.
- Mild zinc deficiency can impact immune function without overt clinical signs.
- Sickle cell anemia (SCA) subjects may experience mild zinc deficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum thymulin activity in mildly zinc-deficient (ZD) human subjects.
- To assess the impact of mild zinc deficiency on T cell subpopulations and IL 2 activity.
- To determine if serum thymulin activity is a sensitive indicator of human zinc deficiency.
Main Methods:
- Assayed serum thymulin activity in three groups: induced mild ZD volunteers, mildly ZD SCA patients, and mildly ZD non-SCA patients.
- Diagnosed mild ZD based on intracellular zinc levels in lymphocytes, granulocytes, and platelets.
- Monitored T cell subpopulations (T101-, sIg-cells, T4+/T8+ ratio) and IL 2 activity before and after zinc supplementation.
Main Results:
- Serum thymulin activity was decreased in mild ZD subjects and corrected after zinc supplementation (in vivo and in vitro).
- Mild ZD was associated with increased T101-, sIg-cells, decreased T4+/T8+ ratio, and reduced IL 2 activity.
- These immunological changes were reversible with zinc repletion in both the experimental model and SCA subjects.
Conclusions:
- Serum thymulin activity is a sensitive indicator of mild zinc deficiency in humans.
- Zinc is essential for maintaining T cell differentiation and function, potentially explaining its role in immune regulation.
- Mild zinc deficiency, even with normal plasma zinc, can alter immune cell profiles and function, emphasizing the importance of intracellular zinc assessment.