Skip to main content
PMC home page
Immunology logoLink to Immunology
. 1989 Sep;68(1):114–119.

Zinc requirement for macrophage function: effect of zinc deficiency on uptake and killing of a protozoan parasite.

J J Wirth 1, P J Fraker 1, F Kierszenbaum 1
PMCID: PMC1385514  PMID: 2680908

Abstract

The effects of suboptimal levels of zinc, an essential trace element, on the ability of murine macrophages to associate with and destroy a pathogenic parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, were evaluated. Young adult A/J mice were fed zinc-deficient, zinc-adequate or restricted amounts of a zinc-adequate diet for 28 days. On the basis of weight loss and parakeratosis, the zinc-deficient mice were further divided into moderately and severely zinc-deficient on Day 28. Both the percentage of mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPM) with associated parasites and the number of parasites per 100 macrophages were significantly lower for macrophages from moderately and severely deficient mice compared to MPM from mice fed restricted or zinc-adequate diet. Furthermore, MPM from both zinc-deficient groups of mice killed fewer internalized parasites than did MPM from restricted or zinc-adequate mice. Pretreatment of MPM from zinc-deficient mice with 5 micrograms zinc/ml for 30 min completely restored both their capacity to take up and kill the parasites. Other trace metals tested, including copper, manganese and nickel, failed to reverse the effects of zinc deficiency. These results point to an important role for zinc in the biochemical events associated with macrophage uptake and killing of the parasite.

Full text

PDF
114

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Budzko D. B., Kierszenbaum F. Isolation of Trypanosoma cruzi from blood. J Parasitol. 1974 Dec;60(6):1037–1038. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Chvapil M. Effect of zinc on cells and biomembranes. Med Clin North Am. 1976 Jul;60(4):799–812. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Chvapil M., Stankova L., Zukoski C., 4th, Zukoski C., 3rd Inhibition of some functions of polymorphonuclear leukocytes by in vitro zinc. J Lab Clin Med. 1977 Jan;89(1):135–146. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Dardenne M., Savino W., Wade S., Kaiserlian D., Lemonnier D., Bach J. F. In vivo and in vitro studies of thymulin in marginally zinc-deficient mice. Eur J Immunol. 1984 May;14(5):454–458. doi: 10.1002/eji.1830140513. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. DePasquale-Jardieu P., Fraker P. J. Further characterization of the role of corticosterone in the loss of humoral immunity in zinc-deficient A/J mice as determined by adrenalectomy. J Immunol. 1980 Jun;124(6):2650–2655. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Fraker P. J., Caruso R., Kierszenbaum F. Alteration of the immune and nutritional status of mice by synergy between zinc deficiency and infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. J Nutr. 1982 Jun;112(6):1224–1229. doi: 10.1093/jn/112.6.1224. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Fraker P. J., DePasquale-Jardieu P., Zwickl C. M., Luecke R. W. Regeneration of T-cell helper function in zinc-deficient adult mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1978 Nov;75(11):5660–5664. doi: 10.1073/pnas.75.11.5660. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Fraker P. J., Gershwin M. E., Good R. A., Prasad A. Interrelationships between zinc and immune function. Fed Proc. 1986 Apr;45(5):1474–1479. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Fraker P. J., Hildebrandt K., Luecke R. W. Alteration of antibody-mediated responses of suckling mice to T-cell-dependent and independent antigens by maternal marginal zinc deficiency: restoration of responsivity by nutritional repletion. J Nutr. 1984 Jan;114(1):170–179. doi: 10.1093/jn/114.1.170. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Fraker P. J., Jardieu P., Cook J. Zinc deficiency and immune function. Arch Dermatol. 1987 Dec;123(12):1699–1701. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Kierszenbaum F., Knecht E., Budzko D. B., Pizzimenti M. C. Phagocytosis: a defense mechanism against infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. J Immunol. 1974 May;112(5):1839–1844. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Lennard E. S., Bjornson A. B., Petering H. G., Alexander J. W. An immunologic and nutritional evaluation of burn neutrophil function. J Surg Res. 1974 Mar;16(3):286–298. doi: 10.1016/0022-4804(74)90045-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Luecke R. W., Simonel C. E., Fraker P. J. The effect of restricted dietary intake on the antibody mediated response of the zinc deficient A/J mouse. J Nutr. 1978 May;108(5):881–887. doi: 10.1093/jn/108.5.881. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Mercado T. I., Katusha K. Isolation of Trypanosoma cruzi from the blood of infected mice by column chromatography. Prep Biochem. 1979;9(1):97–106. doi: 10.1080/00327487908061675. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Nathan C. F., Murray H. W., Wiebe M. E., Rubin B. Y. Identification of interferon-gamma as the lymphokine that activates human macrophage oxidative metabolism and antimicrobial activity. J Exp Med. 1983 Sep 1;158(3):670–689. doi: 10.1084/jem.158.3.670. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Pfefferkorn E. R. Interferon gamma blocks the growth of Toxoplasma gondii in human fibroblasts by inducing the host cells to degrade tryptophan. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1984 Feb;81(3):908–912. doi: 10.1073/pnas.81.3.908. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Prasad A. S. Clinical, biochemical, and pharmacological role of zinc. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 1979;19:393–426. doi: 10.1146/annurev.pa.19.040179.002141. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Weston W. L., Huff J. C., Humbert J. R., Hambidge K. M., Neldner K. H., Walravens P. A. Zinc correction of defective chemotaxis in acrodermatitis enteropathica. Arch Dermatol. 1977 Apr;113(4):422–425. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Winchurch R. A., Thomas D. J., Adler W. H., Lindsay T. J. Supplemental zinc restores antibody formation in cultures of aged spleen cells. J Immunol. 1984 Aug;133(2):569–571. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Wirth J. J., Fraker P. J., Kierszenbaum F. Changes in the levels of marker expression by mononuclear phagocytes in zinc-deficient mice. J Nutr. 1984 Oct;114(10):1826–1833. doi: 10.1093/jn/114.10.1826. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Immunology are provided here courtesy of British Society for Immunology

RESOURCES