|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|
|
Effect of Zinc Supplementation: Zincage Study
a Immunology Center (Section: Nutrigenomic and Immunosenescence), Research Department, Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Ancona, Italy b Gerontological and Psychological Center, Research Department, INRCA, Ancona, Italy c Laboratory of Immunology and Genetics, Istituto di Ricerca Codivilla Putti IOR, Bologna and Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy d Institute of Immunology, RWTH-Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany e Department. of Virology, Franche-Comte University, Besancon, France f Research Center on Aging, Immunology Program, Geriatric Division, University of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada g Experimental Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy h Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University, Lodz, Poland i Department of Nutrition Science and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, Athens, Greece j Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Ageing, Institute of Biological Research and Biotechnology, Institute National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
Key Words: zinc • metallothioneins • immune response • antioxidant activity • zinc supplementation • genetic screening • aging, longevity
Address for correspondence: Dr. Eugenio Mocchegiani Ph.D., Immunology Center (Section: Nutrigenomic and Immunosenescence), Research Department, INRCA, Via Birarelli 8, 60121, Ancona, Italy. Voice: +39-071-8004216; fax: +39-071-206791. e.mocchegiani{at}inrca.it
Aging is an inevitable biological process that is associated with gradual and spontaneous biochemical and physiological changes and increased susceptibility to diseases. Because nutritional factors are involved in improving immune functions, metabolic harmony, and antioxidant defense, some nutritional factors, such as zinc, may modify susceptibility to disease and promote healthy aging. In vitro (human lymphocytes exposed to endotoxins) and in vivo (old or young mice fed with low zinc dietary intake) studies revealed that zinc is important for immune efficiency (innate and adaptive), antioxidant activity (supeoxide dismutase), and cell differentiation via clusterin/apolipoprotein J. Intracellular zinc homeostasis is regulated by metallothioneins (MT) via ion release through the reduction of thiol groups in the MT molecule. This process is crucial in aging because high MT levels are not able to release zinc, resulting in low intracellular free ion availability for biological functions. Improvement in these functions occurs in the elderly after physiological zinc supplementation. In this study, the selection of elderly subjects for zinc supplementation is discussed in relation to the genetic background of MT and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6, because the latter is involved both in MT-gene expression and in intracellular zinc homeostasis.
|
 |
 |
