TY - JOUR
T1 - Serum copper to zinc ratio
T2 - Relationship with aging and health status
AU - Malavolta, Marco
AU - Piacenza, Francesco
AU - Basso, Andrea
AU - Giacconi, Robertina
AU - Costarelli, Laura
AU - Mocchegiani, Eugenio
PY - 2015/11/1
Y1 - 2015/11/1
N2 - The serum concentrations of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are strictly regulated by compensatory mechanisms that act to stabilize them within certain ranges of nutritional intake. However, there are mechanisms that are built to decrease serum concentration of Zn and to increase serum concentration of Cu in the presence of inflammatory conditions, so that a common feature of several age-related chronic diseases is an increase of the Cu to Zn ratio (CZr). Although the clinical potential of CZr has been extensively investigated, few authors addressed the mechanisms that mainly contribute to the increase of CZr in serum during aging, which signals drive this change and how cells respond to these changes. This review focuses on this topic and discusses how an increase of CZr during aging could reflect the homeostatic shade from a general systemic "growth and reproduction" status typical of juvenile age to a "repair and maintenance" status that evolved to preserve health status during old age.
AB - The serum concentrations of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are strictly regulated by compensatory mechanisms that act to stabilize them within certain ranges of nutritional intake. However, there are mechanisms that are built to decrease serum concentration of Zn and to increase serum concentration of Cu in the presence of inflammatory conditions, so that a common feature of several age-related chronic diseases is an increase of the Cu to Zn ratio (CZr). Although the clinical potential of CZr has been extensively investigated, few authors addressed the mechanisms that mainly contribute to the increase of CZr in serum during aging, which signals drive this change and how cells respond to these changes. This review focuses on this topic and discusses how an increase of CZr during aging could reflect the homeostatic shade from a general systemic "growth and reproduction" status typical of juvenile age to a "repair and maintenance" status that evolved to preserve health status during old age.
KW - Aging
KW - Copper
KW - Homeostasis
KW - Inflammation
KW - Zinc
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84947024270&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84947024270&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.mad.2015.01.004
DO - 10.1016/j.mad.2015.01.004
M3 - Article
C2 - 25660061
AN - SCOPUS:84947024270
VL - 151
SP - 93
EP - 100
JO - Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
JF - Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
SN - 0047-6374
ER -