title: Micronutrient status and immune function in tuberculosis.
abstract: Both macro- and micronutrients have been shown to affect resistance to tuberculosis, which is mediated by macrophages activated by T lymphocytes. Others have demonstrated inhibition of mycobacterial replication in macrophage cultures treated with vitamin D or retinoic acid. We examined the influence of dietary zinc and vitamin D on resistance to tuberculosis. Guinea pigs were fed diets containing varying levels of zinc or vitamin D, and infected 6 weeks later by the respiratory route with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Zinc-deficient guinea pigs had fewer circulating T cells and reduced tuberculin (PPD) hypersensitivity. The response of peritoneal exudate macrophages to the lymphokine MIF was impaired. Zinc deprivation did not influence disease resistance in BCG-vaccinated or nonvaccinated animals. Vitamin D deficiency adversely affected the tuberculin reaction and ability to control the infection. Lymphocytes from vitamin D-deprived animals did not proliferate normally when cultured with PPD. A diet supplemented with vitamin D enhanced T cell responses to PPD in vivo. These results suggest that zinc and vitamin D status affect immunity to tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843.
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: McMurray
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bartow
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Mintzer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Frontera
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000150:complications; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000502:physiology*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications; D015032:Zinc / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D014807:Vitamin D; D015032:Zinc