title: A trace element preparation containing zinc increases the production of interleukin-6 in human monocytes and glial cells.
abstract: The in vitro effects of a trace element preparation (béres Drops Plus, BDP) on the biosynthesis of inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL-6, IL-1, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were studied in human peripheral monocytes. The production of IL-6 was studied in a glioblastoma cell line, SKMG-4, as well. The trace element preparation BDP significantly stimulated both the constitutive and the endotoxin or IL-1 induced IL-6 production in monocytes or in glial cells, respectively, but revealed no or only modest effect on IL-1 and TNF-alpha production of monocytes. Moreover, BDP was able to reduce the inhibitory effect of a synthetic corticosteroid, dexamethasone on the biosynthesis of IL-6. The positive effect of the trace element preparation on the IL-6 production of monocytes from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is comparable, to that of on the monocytes from healthy individuals, and similarly to healthy individuals was negligible on the IL-1 and TNF-alpha production. The detailed analysis of the composition of the preparation suggested, that the major active component in the stimulation of IL-6 production is Zn, but for the complete effect other trace elements are also required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Semmelweis Medical University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falus
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Béres
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000633:toxicity; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008903:Minerals; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008903:Minerals; D014131:Trace Elements; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C099452:mineral acids, trace elements, water, drug combination; D003907:Dexamethasone; D015032:Zinc