Zinc-altered immune function and cytokine production.

Although the intriguing role of zinc as an essential trace element for immune function is well established, particular progress in determining the molecular principles of action of this ion was made recently. Leukocyte responsiveness is delicately regulated by zinc concentration. Zinc deficiency as well as supraphysiologic levels impair immune function. Furthermore, the activities of many immunostimulants frequently used in immunologic studies are influenced by zinc concentration. Therefore, our knowledge from in vitro studies is widely dependent on the zinc concentration, and when not in physiologic range, immunologic responses are artificially low. Decreased production of TH1 cytokines and interferon-alpha by leukocytes in the healthy elderly person is correlated with low zinc serum level. The defect in interferon-alpha production is reconstituted by the addition of physiologic amounts of zinc in vitro. Interestingly, zinc induces cytokine production by isolated leukocytes. Zinc induces monocytes to produce interleukin-1, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and separated monocytes. This effect is higher in serum-free medium. However, only in the presence of serum does zinc also induce T cells to produce lymphokines. This effect on T cells is mediated by cytokines produced by monocytes. Stimulation also requires cell-to-cell contact of monocytes and T cells. Information is presented to illustrate the concepts that the zinc concentration must be taken into account whenever in vitro studies are made or complex alterations of immune functions are observed in vivo.