title: Dysregulation between TH1 and TH2 T cell subpopulations in the elderly.
abstract: We investigated the influence of zinc and its binding proteins on the immune system in 21 elderly and 20 young subjects. We detected a deficiency of zinc in the serum of the elderly. Albumin levels were within physiological range, but alpha 2-macroglobulin was significantly increased in the serum of elderly subjects. Using a whole blood assay, we found decreased production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and soluble interleukin-2 receptors (SIL-2R) in the elderly, whereas interleukin-10 (IL-10) production was greater than in the young controls. To exclude cellular defects, we measured lymphocyte subpopulations. In elderly subjects, we detected lower quantities of CD8+, CD8+/CD45RA+ and CD4+/CD45RO+ cells, but not CD4+ cells, than in young subjects. Other lymphocyte subpopulations were comparable for both groups. These findings suggest a dysregulation between TH1 cells and TH2 cells in the elderly, which may be a result of long-term zinc deficiency. Zinc reconstitution showed no beneficial effects as measured by T cell activity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University of Lübeck School of Medicine, Germany.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cakman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rohwer
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Schütz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kirchner
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rink
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012995:Solubility; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D015032:Zinc / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; C017800:zinc-binding protein; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D015032:Zinc