Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Interrelationships between zinc and immune function.

P J Fraker, M E Gershwin, R A Good

    Federation Proceedings
    |April 1, 1986
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Post-traumatic Patellar Tendon Repair with Ipsilateral Peroneus Tendon Augmentation Post Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Case Report.

    Malaysian orthopaedic journal·2026
    Same author

    The impact of intra-abdominal pressure on urine output in postoperative cardiac surgery patients: Insights from continuous monitoring.

    Journal of critical care·2025
    Same author

    The Surface-Topography Challenge: A Multi-Laboratory Benchmark Study to Advance the Characterization of Topography.

    Tribology letters·2025
    Same author

    Interrelationships between social exclusion, mental health and wellbeing in adolescents: insights from a national <i>Youth Survey</i>.

    Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences·2025
    Same author

    Amphibian Segmentation Clock Models Suggest How Large Genome and Cell Sizes Slow Developmental Rate.

    Integrative organismal biology (Oxford, England)·2024
    Same author

    On the design of low modulus Ti-Nb-Au alloys for biomedical applications.

    Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials·2024

    Zinc deficiency severely impairs immune function in mice and humans, affecting T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells. This nutritional deficit can lead to persistent immunodeficiency, impacting host defense mechanisms.

    Area of Science:

    • Immunology
    • Nutritional Science
    • Animal Models

    Background:

    • Zinc deficiency is a widespread nutritional issue impacting both human and animal health.
    • It profoundly affects host defense mechanisms and immune cell populations.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the immunological consequences of zinc deficiency in a mouse model.
    • To explore the effects of suboptimal zinc on various immune responses and cell types.
    • To examine human immunological outcomes associated with zinc deficiency.

    Main Methods:

    • Utilized young adult mice to model moderate zinc deficiency.
    • Assessed changes in thymic atrophy, lymphopenia, and lymphocyte/phagocyte subsets.
    • Evaluated antibody-mediated responses, T cell cytotoxicity, natural killer (NK) cell activity, and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions.

    Related Experiment Videos

  • Examined human cases of acrodermatitis enteropathica, sickle cell anemia, and uremia with zinc deficiency.

    • Main Results:

    • Suboptimal zinc intake in mice led to thymic atrophy, lymphopenia, and altered immune cell proportions.
    • Significant reductions were observed in antibody responses, cytolytic T cell activity, NK cell activity, and DTH reactions.
    • In utero zinc deficiency resulted in persistent immunodeficiency in offspring, transmissible to subsequent generations.
    • Human patients with zinc-related disorders exhibited similar immune deficiencies, including atrophic thymuses and reduced NK cell activity.
    • Zinc was identified as an essential cofactor for the thymic hormone thymulin.
    • Zinc salts demonstrated lymphocyte-activating properties in vitro.

    Conclusions:

    • Moderate zinc deficiency significantly compromises cellular and humoral immunity in mice.
    • In utero zinc deficiency can cause lasting and heritable immunodeficiency.
    • Zinc deficiency in humans, as seen in specific genetic disorders and diseases, mirrors these immunological deficits.
    • Zinc plays a critical role in immune function, acting as a cofactor for thymulin and influencing lymphocyte activity.