Effects of Zinc Deficiency on Th1 and Th2 Cytokine Shifts

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Abstract
Nutritional deficiency of zinc is widespread throughout developing countries, and zincdeficient persons have increased susceptibility to a variety of pathogens. Zinc deficiency in an experimental human model caused an imbalance between Th1 and Th2 functions. Production of interferon-γ and interleukin (IL)-2 (products of Th1) were decreased, whereas production of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 (products of Th2) were not affected during zinc deficiency. Zinc deficiency decreased natural killer cell lytic activity and percentage of precursors of cytolytic T cells. In HuT-78, a Th0 cell line, zinc deficiency decreased gene expression of thymidine kinase, delayed cell cycle, and decreased cell growth. Gene expression of IL-2 and IL-2 receptors (both α and β) and binding of NF-κB to DNA were decreased by zinc deficiency in HuT-78. Decreased production of IL-2 in zinc deficiency may be due to decreased activation of NF-κB and subsequent decreased gene expression of IL-2 and IL-2 receptors.