Stimulation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by zinc and related cations.
Zinc is an important trace element for immune function. Here, we show that zinc addition in a serum- and lipopolysaccharide-free cell culture system leads to significantly enhanced levels of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and to expression of the corresponding mRNA in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Structurally related divalent cations like cobalt, nickel, and mercury also partially increase monokine secretion but to a much lower and thus insignificant extent. They fail to induce mRNA of TNF-alpha after 3 h of culture. Therefore, monokine induction is a zinc-specific effect influenced by the physicochemical properties of the ion. Confirmation of the unique significance of zinc for immune function provides a better understanding of the mechanisms of specific zinc-mediated immune modulation.
Wellinghausen
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N
Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University of Lübeck School of Medicine, Germany.
Driessen
C
C
Rink
L
L
D003035:Cobalt / Q000494:pharmacology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects*; D008628:Mercury / Q000494:pharmacology; D009532:Nickel / Q000494:pharmacology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D035582:Transcription Factor TFIIIA; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007375:Interleukin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D035582:Transcription Factor TFIIIA; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D003035:Cobalt; D009532:Nickel; D008628:Mercury; D015032:Zinc