Impairment of cell-mediated immunity functions by dietary zinc deficiency in mice.
Several immunologic features were analyzed in mice on a zinc-deficient diet [Zn(-)], in mice pair-fed a diet containing zinc [Zn(+)], in mice fed a Zn(+) diet ad lib, and in mice fed laboratory chow ad lib. When placed on a Zn(-) diet, 6- to 8-week-old A/Jax, C57BL/Ks, and CBA/H mice showed loss of body weight, low lymphoid tissue weight, and profound involution of the thymus within 4-8 weeks after initiation of the regimen. Approximately 50% of the mice on the Zn(-) diet developed severe acrodermatitis enteropathica (lesions on tail and paws) and diarrhea. Pair-fed mice on the Zn(+) diet did not show any of these symptoms. Mice on the Zn(-) diet showed the following immune deficiencies: (i) depressed plaque-forming cells against sheep erythrocytes after in vivo immunization; (ii) depressed T killer cell activity against EL-4 tumor cells after in vivo immunization; and (iii) low natural killer cell activity. However, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity against chicken erythrocytes was normal in the mice on the Zn(-) diet. Deficiency of T killer cell activity was not observed when immunization with EL-4 allogeneic lymphoma cells was carried out in vitro. Progressive loss of relative and absolute number of Thy 1.2+ cells and a proportionate relative increase in cells bearing Fc receptors was seen in spleen and lymph nodes of Zn(-) animals. It appears that zinc is an essential element for maintenance of normal T cell and other immune functions in vivo.
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001665:Binding Sites; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments; D015032:Zinc