Zinc and the immune system

By Nour Zahi Gammoh, L. Rink. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2000

641 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Zn is an essential trace element for all organisms. In human subjects body growth and development is strictly dependent on Zn. The nervous, reproductive and immune systems are particularly influenced by Zn deficiency, as well as by increased levels of Zn. The relationship between Zn and the immune system is complex, since there are four different types of influence associated with Zn. (1) The dietary intake and the resorption of Zn depends on the composition of the diet and also on age and disease status. (2) Zn is a cofactor in more than 300 enzymes influencing various organ functions having a secondary effect on the immune system. (3) Direct effects of Zn on the production, maturation and function of leucocytes. (4) Zn influences the function of immunostimulants used in the experimental systems. Here we summarize all four types of influence on the immune function. Nutritional aspects of Zn, the physiology of Zn, the influence of Zn on enzymes and cellular functions, direct effects of Zn on leucocytes at the cellular and molecular level, Zn-altered function of immunostimulants and the therapeutic use of Zn will be discussed in detail.

Subfields: Hematology, Nutrition and Dietetics

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/49980b1583687f392c350e67e65346f7bf30513a

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Citations in the corpus

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of zinc. Zinc-dependent NF-κB signaling (2017, background): “It is a component of about 10% of human proteins, including transcription factors and key enzymes regulating cellular processes and cellular signaling pathways (Rink and Gabriel 2001; Andreini et al. 2006).”
From space to Earth: advances in human physiology from 20 years of bed rest studies (1986–2006) (2007, background): “Since zinc is an essential element for the immune system, total body zinc loss might have an effect on immune function via changes in natural killer cell activity or their functional loss (Rink and Gabriel 2000).”
Zinc in Infection and Inflammation (2017, background): “Such functions include, but are not limited to, cell proliferation and differentiation [2], RNA and DNA synthesis [3], as well as cell structures and cell membrane stabilization [4].”
Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Success through dormancy (2012, background): “Indeed, zinc is known to be of particular importance for the immune system playing multiple roles, for instance, in defense and signaling (Rink & Gabriel, 2000; Haase & Rink, 2009).”
Familial Occurrence of KienbockÂ’s Disease (2011, background): “Gastroenteritis is strongly attenuated by ingestion of zinc and this effect could be due to direct antimicrobial action of the zinc ions in the gastrointestinal tract, or to the absorption of the zinc and re-release from immune cells [all granulocytes secrete zinc], or both [20,21,22].”
The Essential Toxin: Impact of Zinc on Human Health (2010, background): “Thereby, it plays a key role in multisided cellular and molecular mechanisms [79,80].”
Zinc and human health: an update (2011, positive): “Zinc is the only metal that is a cofactor to more than 300 enzymes (Rink and Gabriel 2000), and its major role is in the stabilization of the structure of a huge number of proteins, including signaling enzymes at all levels of cellar signal transduction and transcription factors (Beyersmann 2002).”
Trace elements in hemodialysis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2009, neutral): “[150,151], all of which might contribute to the excess risk”
Effect of zinc supplementation from two sources on growth, nutrient utilization and immune response in male crossbred cattle (Bos indicus×Bos taurus) bulls (2007, background): “As Zn is needed to maintain normal activity of lymphocytes (Rink and Gabriel, 2000), making it essential for integrity of immune system (McDowell, 1992), its supplementation to diets may improve immune function (Engle et al.”