Document 0262 DOCN M9620262 TI Zinc and immune function. DT 9602 AU Ripa S; Ripa R; Istituto di Clinica Medica Generale, Universita di Ferrara. SO Minerva Med. 1995 Jul-Aug;86(7-8):315-8. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/96069696 AB Zinc and immune function relationship has been extensively studied. Both in experimentally induced mineral deficit and in genetically determined deficit observable in acrodermatitis enteropathica and in enteropathy of Danish A-46 cattle, a B and T dependent antibody response decrease, a T dependent cytolytic response decrease and a natural killer cytotoxic activity decrease are present noteviously. Serious reduction of the immune function is present, in proportion to the value of low zinc plasmatic level, in elderly patients, in malnourished and seriously zinc deficient children, in patients subjected to total parenteral supply, in HIV infections and especially in evident AIDS: in this condition the plasmatic zinc level can be considered, together with the CD4+ lymphocytes amount and the B2-microglobulin value, a disease progression marker. Zinc immunostimulating action mechanisms are complex, although thymic hormone (of which zinc is essential cofactor) stimulation seems to be most important. Zinc supplementation, also parenterally, can be useful in immunodeficiency (in the elderly, in the post-surgical patients, in genetically determined or alimentary induced deficit, in AIDS. DE Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/BLOOD Age Factors Aged Animal Autoimmune Diseases/BLOOD/ETIOLOGY Cattle Child Child Nutrition Disorders/BLOOD/ETIOLOGY/PREVENTION & CONTROL Human *Immunity Immunologic Diseases/BLOOD/ETIOLOGY/PREVENTION & CONTROL Zinc/ADMINISTRATION & DOSAGE/BLOOD/DEFICIENCY/*PHYSIOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE SOURCE: National Library of Medicine. NOTICE: This material may be protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).