title: Effects of zinc deficiency on Th1 and Th2 cytokine shifts.
abstract: Nutritional deficiency of zinc is widespread throughout developing countries, and zinc-deficient persons have increased susceptibility to a variety of pathogens. Zinc deficiency in an experimental human model caused an imbalance between Th1 and Th2 functions. Production of interferon-gamma and interleukin (IL)-2 (products of Th1) were decreased, whereas production of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 (products of Th2) were not affected during zinc deficiency. Zinc deficiency decreased natural killer cell lytic activity and percentage of precursors of cytolytic T cells. In HuT-78, a Th0 cell line, zinc deficiency decreased gene expression of thymidine kinase, delayed cell cycle, and decreased cell growth. Gene expression of IL-2 and IL-2 receptors (both alpha and beta) and binding of NF-kappaB to DNA were decreased by zinc deficiency in HuT-78. Decreased production of IL-2 in zinc deficiency may be due to decreased activation of NF-kappaB and subsequent decreased gene expression of IL-2 and IL-2 receptors.
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University, University Health Center, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. prasada@karmanos.org
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Prasad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D002460:Cell Line; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D016511:Severe Combined Immunodeficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D015032:Zinc / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D016207:Cytokines; D007378:Interleukins; D018977:Micronutrients; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D015032:Zinc