Copper deficiency suppresses the immune response of mice.

Mice fed a purified diet low in copper display anemia, hypoceruloplasminemia, depressed concentrations of liver copper, and elevated concentrations of liver iron. An impaired humoral-mediated immune response (decreased numbers of antibody-producing cells) is observed in mice with severe as well as marginal copper deficiency. The magnitude of this impairment is highly correlated with the degree of functional copper deficiency (hypoceruloplasminemia).