title: Zinc modulates the mitogenic activation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes.
abstract: In the present study we have investigated the effect of Zn salts on the mitogenetic activation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). Our results show that Zn2+ enhances the level of DNA synthesis in human T lymphocytes stimulated by a mitogenic lectin, phytohemagglutinin (PHA); this effect seems to be mediated through an enhanced expression of both interleukin-2 (IL-2) and transferrin (Trf) receptors. We have also analyzed the mitogenic effect of Zn2+ alone on PBL, in the absence of other mitogenic stimuli. In this regard we have identified large light density T lymphocytes as the PBL population which is activated to proliferate by Zn2+. Finally, we showed that Zn2+ stimulates natural killer (NK) activity; this effect is apparently not due to a direct action on NK lymphocytes, but is related to endogenous cytokines released by accessory cells which in turn stimulate the cytolytic activity of NK lymphocytes.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bulgarini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Habetswallner
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boccoli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Montesoro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Camagna
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mastroberardino
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rosania
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peschle
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc