Zinc: Mechanisms of Host Defense1,
Open accessAbstract
Zinc deficiency in humans decreases the activity of serum thymulin (a thymic hormone), which is required for maturation of T-helper cells. T-helper 1 (Th(1)) cytokines are decreased but T-helper 2 (Th(2)) cytokines are not affected by zinc deficiency in humans. This shift of Th(1) to Th(2) function results in cell-mediated immune dysfunction. Because IL-2 production (Th(1) cytokine) is decreased, this leads to decreased activities of natural-killer cell and T cytolytic cells, which are involved in killing viruses, bacteria, and tumor cells. In humans, zinc deficiency may decrease the generation of new CD4+ T cells from the thymus. In cell culture studies (HUT-78, a Th(0) human malignant lymphoblastoid cell line), as a result of zinc deficiency, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation, phosphorylation of IkappaB, and binding of NF-kappaB to DNA are decreased and this results in decreased Th(1) cytokine production. In another study, zinc supplementation to humans decreased the gene expression and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreased oxidative stress markers. In HL-60 cells (a human pro-myelocytic leukemia cell line), zinc deficiency increased the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-8 cytokines and mRNA. In these cells, zinc induced A20, a zinc finger protein that inhibited NF-kappaB activation via tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor pathway, and this decreased gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress markers. We conclude that zinc has an important role in cell-mediated immune functions and also functions as antiinflammatory and antioxidant agent.
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Immunological benefits of zinc supplementation help to reduce the incidence of infections such as common cold, cold sores and influenza, as well as the incidence and morbidity of pneumonia.
“immunological benefits that help to reduce the incidence of infections such as common cold, cold sores and influenza [120], as well as the incidence and morbidity of pneumonia [121].”
From Immune function and micronutrient requirements change over the life course (2018) · cites this paper as [120]
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- Authors
- Prasad, A. S.
- Affiliations
- Wayne State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Prasad, Ananda S.
- ORCID
- Prasad, Ananda S.
- Venue
- The Journal of Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2007-05
- Volume
- 137
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1345-1349
- ISSN
- 0022-3166 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2164328658
- Cited by
- 314
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 22
- FWCI
- 2.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Public Health Service (R01 A150698-04)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Trace Elements in Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Hematology › Iron Metabolism and Disorders
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunotoxicology and immune responses
- Keywords
- zinc deficiency, zinc supplementation, host defense, T helper cells, Th1/Th2 cytokines, interleukin-2, natural killer cells, NF-κB activation, IκB phosphorylation, inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, A20, anti-inflammatory activity, antioxidant activity, cell-mediated immunity
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Antioxidants, Humans, Immunity, Cellular, Interleukin-2, RNA, Messenger, Zinc, Cytokines, NF-kappa B, Dietary Supplements
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