Related Experiment Videos
Zinc-altered immune function and cytokine production
1Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University of Lübeck School of Medicine, Lübeck, Germany.
Insights
Zinc concentration critically impacts immune cell function. Maintaining optimal zinc levels is essential for effective immune responses and accurate in vitro study results.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Trace Element Research
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Zinc is an essential trace element crucial for immune function.
- Leukocyte responsiveness is highly sensitive to zinc concentration, with both deficiency and excess impairing immunity.
- In vitro study outcomes are significantly influenced by zinc levels, potentially leading to artificially low responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which zinc influences immune cell function.
- To investigate the correlation between zinc levels and immune responses, particularly in the elderly.
- To explore zinc's role in cytokine production by various immune cells.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of leukocyte responsiveness to varying zinc concentrations.
- In vitro studies involving isolated leukocytes, monocytes, and T cells.
- Measurement of cytokine and interferon-alpha production under different zinc conditions.
Main Results:
- Decreased production of TH1 cytokines and interferon-alpha in the elderly is linked to low serum zinc.
- Physiologic zinc levels restored interferon-alpha production in vitro.
- Zinc stimulates monocytes to produce interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.
- Zinc-induced lymphokine production in T cells requires monocyte-derived cytokines and cell-to-cell contact.
Conclusions:
- Zinc concentration is a critical factor in immune cell function and must be considered in both in vitro and in vivo studies.
- Maintaining adequate zinc levels is vital for optimal immune responses, especially in vulnerable populations like the elderly.
- Zinc actively modulates immune cell activity through cytokine induction and intercellular communication.
Abstract:
Although the intriguing role of zinc as an essential trace element for immune function is well established, particular progress in determining the molecular principles of action of this ion was made recently. Leukocyte responsiveness is delicately regulated by zinc concentration. Zinc deficiency as well as supraphysiologic levels impair immune function. Furthermore, the activities of many immunostimulants frequently used in immunologic studies are influenced by zinc concentration. Therefore, our knowledge from in vitro studies is widely dependent on the zinc concentration, and when not in physiologic range, immunologic responses are artificially low. Decreased production of TH1 cytokines and interferon-alpha by leukocytes in the healthy elderly person is correlated with low zinc serum level. The defect in interferon-alpha production is reconstituted by the addition of physiologic amounts of zinc in vitro. Interestingly, zinc induces cytokine production by isolated leukocytes. Zinc induces monocytes to produce interleukin-1, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and separated monocytes. This effect is higher in serum-free medium. However, only in the presence of serum does zinc also induce T cells to produce lymphokines. This effect on T cells is mediated by cytokines produced by monocytes. Stimulation also requires cell-to-cell contact of monocytes and T cells. Information is presented to illustrate the concepts that the zinc concentration must be taken into account whenever in vitro studies are made or complex alterations of immune functions are observed in vivo.