Changes in cytokine production and t cell subpopulations in
experimentally induced zinc deficient humans.
Beck, Frances W. J., Ananda S. Prasad, Joseph Kaplan, James T.
Fitzgerald, George J. Brewer.
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology,
Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201;
Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit,
Michigan 48201; Department of Postgraduate Medicine, University of
Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109; Departments of
Human Genetics and Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical
School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109
APStracts 4:0041E, 1997.
We have utilized experimental model of human zinc deficiency for study
of cytokines production by TH1 and TH2 cells. Additionally we
determined ratios of CD4+/CD8+ and CD4+ CD45RA+/CD4+ CD45RO+ cells
and percentages of CD73+ T cytolytic cells in the CD8+ subset. The
data were collected during baseline, at the end of zinc restricted
period and following zinc repletion. Our results showed that
functions of TH1 cells, as evidenced by production of INF-_, IL-2 and
TNF-[alpha], were decreased whereas functions of TH2 cells
(production of IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10) were unaffected by zinc
deficiency. Thus an imbalance between TH1 and TH2 cells resulted due
to zinc deficiency in humans. Our studies also showed that zinc may
be required for regeneration of new CD4+ T lymphocytes and
maintenance of T cytolytic cells. We conclude that an imbalance
between TH1 and TH2 cells, decreased recruitment of T naive cells and
decreased percentage of T cytolytic cells may account for decreased
cell mediated immune functions in zinc deficient subjects.
Received 25 November 1996; accepted in final form 29 January
1997.
APS Manuscript Number E587-6.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Endocrinol. Metab.).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1997 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 20 February 1997