Zinc plays an important role in immune functions in humans. Decreased thymulin activity, decreased production of IL- 2, decreased NK cell lytic activity, decreased cytolytic T cells, anergy, decreased CD4/CD8 and decreased CD4+ CD45RA+/CD4+ CD45RO+ ratios, have been observed in zinc deficient humans and these abnormalities are corrected by zinc supplementation. In order to understand the mechanism of zinc action on IL-2 production, we propose to utilize HUT-78, a ThO human malignant lymphoblastoid cell line for our studies. The human IL-2 gene promoter contains one binding site for genuine Rel/NF-kB factors and binding of NF- kB to DNA is specifically blocked by a zinc chelator and is reconstituted by addition of zinc. NF-kB also binds to the regulatory gene of IL-2 receptor alpha. We hypothesize that in zinc deficient HUT-78 cells, the activation and translocation of NF-kB to nucleus and the gene expression of NF-kB will be decreased and this will lead to decreased gene expression of IL-2 and IL-2 receptor alpha and decreased production of IL-2, sIL-2 receptor alpha and total sIL-2 receptors. The effect of different concentrations of zinc on NF-kB activation in HUT-78 cells will be determined by i) nuclear binding of NF-kB by gel shift assay and confocal imaging ii) gene transfection of cells with luciferase reporter gene vector containing NF-kB enhancer element and iii) assays of phosphorylated, unphosphorylated and ubiquitinated forms of IkB (the inhibitory molecule of the NF-kB complex) in cellular cytosolic fraction. The functional role of NF-kB on transcriptional activation of IL-2 and IL-2 receptor alpha as affected by zinc will be determined by using antisense p105 expression vector in HUT-78 cells. We are also hypothesizing that NF-kB activation, IL-2 production and IL-2 mRNA will be decreased in PHA stimulated zinc deficient human mononuclear cells and that these abnormalities will be corrected by in vivo and in vitro zinc supplementation. For this study we will select appropriate number of healthy ambulatory elderly subjects from a nursing home. Our previous experience indicates that approximately 30 percent of these healthy elderly are zinc deficient.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI050698-02
Application #
6608877
Study Section
Nutrition Study Section (NTN)
Program Officer
Plaut, Marshall
Project Start
2002-08-01
Project End
2007-01-31
Budget Start
2003-02-01
Budget End
2004-01-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$370,513
Indirect Cost
Name
Wayne State University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
001962224
City
Detroit
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48202
Bao, Bin; Prasad, Ananda S; Beck, Frances W J et al. (2011) Intracellular free zinc up-regulates IFN-ýý and T-bet essential for Th1 differentiation in Con-A stimulated HUT-78 cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 407:703-7
Prasad, Ananda S (2008) Clinical, immunological, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant roles of zinc. Exp Gerontol 43:370-7
Sandstead, Harold H; Prasad, Ananda S; Penland, James G et al. (2008) Zinc deficiency in Mexican American children: influence of zinc and other micronutrients on T cells, cytokines, and antiinflammatory plasma proteins. Am J Clin Nutr 88:1067-73
Bao, Bin; Prasad, Ananda S; Beck, Frances W J et al. (2007) Zinc up-regulates NF-kappaB activation via phosphorylation of IkappaB in HUT-78 (Th0) cells. FEBS Lett 581:4507-11
Beck, Frances W J; Li, Yiwei; Bao, Bin et al. (2006) Evidence for reprogramming global gene expression during zinc deficiency in the HUT-78 cell line. Nutrition 22:1045-56
Prasad, Ananda S; Bao, Bin; Beck, Frances W J et al. (2002) Zinc enhances the expression of interleukin-2 and interleukin-2 receptors in HUT-78 cells by way of NF-kappaB activation. J Lab Clin Med 140:272-89