title: Decreased natural killer (NK) cell activity in zinc-deficient rats.
abstract: 1. In the study, the effect of zinc deficiency, a natural killer (NK), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activated NK cell activity were investigated. 2. Rats were fed with zinc-deficient and normal diet for 3 weeks. 3. NK and LPS activated NK cell activity was 7.2 +/- 1.8%/10(6) cells (n = 10) and 9.5 +/- 4.3%/10(6) cells (n = 10), respectively, in the zinc deficient group. In the control group fed with normal diet, NK and LPS activated NK cell activity was 22.2 +/- 3.3%/10(6) cells (n = 10) and 32.5 +/- 3.5%/10(6) cells (n = 10), respectively. 4. Plasma zinc concentration was 131.7 +/- 8.8 micrograms/dl in the zinc-deficient group and 206 +/- 17.7 micrograms/dl in the control group. 5. The results suggest that decreased NK and LPS activated NK cell activity is associated with zinc deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Beşevler, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oztürk
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Erbas
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imir
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Bor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D015032:Zinc