Abstract
Aging is associated with low-grade inflammation on the one hand and mild zinc deficiency on the other. These conditions contribute to decreased immune functions, resulting in increased incidences of infections and autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to give more insight into the question, to what extent is low-grade inflammation caused by zinc deficient status. Here we report the effect of improved intracellular zinc status on low-grade inflammatory activity in 19 healthy elderly subjects. Our experiments show that adjustment of labile zinc by moderate zinc supplementation reduces spontaneous cytokine release and defects in termination of inflammatory activity. This results in reduced amounts of unspecific preactivated T cells and leads to improved T cell response upon mitogenic stimulation. Therefore, in contrast to other anti-inflammatory drugs, zinc does not suppress, but improves immune reaction upon pathogen invasion. These results suggest that mildly zinc-deficient, healthy elderly subjects might benefit from moderate zinc supplementation due to a more balanced immune response with reduced incidences of infections and autoimmune diseases.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 227-237 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Rejuvenation Research |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 1 2008 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ageing
Cite this
Zinc supplementation in the elderly reduces spontaneous inflammatory cytokine release and restores T cell functions. / Kahmann, Laura; Uciechowski, Peter; Warmuth, Sabine; Plümäkers, Birgit; Gressner, Axel M.; Malavolta, Marco; Mocchegiani, Eugenio; Rink, Lothar.
In: Rejuvenation Research, Vol. 11, No. 1, 01.02.2008, p. 227-237.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Zinc supplementation in the elderly reduces spontaneous inflammatory cytokine release and restores T cell functions
AU - Kahmann, Laura
AU - Uciechowski, Peter
AU - Warmuth, Sabine
AU - Plümäkers, Birgit
AU - Gressner, Axel M.
AU - Malavolta, Marco
AU - Mocchegiani, Eugenio
AU - Rink, Lothar
PY - 2008/2/1
Y1 - 2008/2/1
N2 - Aging is associated with low-grade inflammation on the one hand and mild zinc deficiency on the other. These conditions contribute to decreased immune functions, resulting in increased incidences of infections and autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to give more insight into the question, to what extent is low-grade inflammation caused by zinc deficient status. Here we report the effect of improved intracellular zinc status on low-grade inflammatory activity in 19 healthy elderly subjects. Our experiments show that adjustment of labile zinc by moderate zinc supplementation reduces spontaneous cytokine release and defects in termination of inflammatory activity. This results in reduced amounts of unspecific preactivated T cells and leads to improved T cell response upon mitogenic stimulation. Therefore, in contrast to other anti-inflammatory drugs, zinc does not suppress, but improves immune reaction upon pathogen invasion. These results suggest that mildly zinc-deficient, healthy elderly subjects might benefit from moderate zinc supplementation due to a more balanced immune response with reduced incidences of infections and autoimmune diseases.
AB - Aging is associated with low-grade inflammation on the one hand and mild zinc deficiency on the other. These conditions contribute to decreased immune functions, resulting in increased incidences of infections and autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to give more insight into the question, to what extent is low-grade inflammation caused by zinc deficient status. Here we report the effect of improved intracellular zinc status on low-grade inflammatory activity in 19 healthy elderly subjects. Our experiments show that adjustment of labile zinc by moderate zinc supplementation reduces spontaneous cytokine release and defects in termination of inflammatory activity. This results in reduced amounts of unspecific preactivated T cells and leads to improved T cell response upon mitogenic stimulation. Therefore, in contrast to other anti-inflammatory drugs, zinc does not suppress, but improves immune reaction upon pathogen invasion. These results suggest that mildly zinc-deficient, healthy elderly subjects might benefit from moderate zinc supplementation due to a more balanced immune response with reduced incidences of infections and autoimmune diseases.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=39449124109&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=39449124109&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1089/rej.2007.0613
DO - 10.1089/rej.2007.0613
M3 - Article
C2 - 18279033
AN - SCOPUS:39449124109
VL - 11
SP - 227
EP - 237
JO - Rejuvenation Research
JF - Rejuvenation Research
SN - 1549-1684
IS - 1
ER -