title: Zinc-mediated lymphocyte energy charge modification in dialysis patients.
abstract: The authors studied the effects of 6 months of zinc therapy on cell-mediated immunity in regular dialysis therapy patients. Serum zinc was significantly enhanced (p less than 0.01) at 2 months. While cells, OKT3, and OKT4 did not show significant variation, but after 6 months of therapy a significant (p less than 0.02) decrease of OKT8 cells, with enhancement of the OKT4/OKT8 ratio, and a significant (p less than 0.01) increase in the Multitest Composite score were found. At the same time, a significant elevation (p less than 0.001) of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and a reduction (p less than 0.01) of lymphocyte adenosine monophosphate was seen; consequently, energy charge levels increased. Zinc-induced improvement of uremic lymphocyte function is likely mediated by an increase in intracellular ATP.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nephrology, University of Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonomini
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Palmieri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Evangelista
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Manfrini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albertazzi
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000097:blood; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D015032:Zinc