Abstract
Copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are essential trace elements for regular development. Acute infections alter their metabolism, while deficiencies increase infection risks. A prospective observational case-control study was conducted with infected (n = 21) and control (n = 23) term and preterm newborns. We analyzed trace element concentrations by X-ray fluorescence, and ceruloplasmin (CP) by Western blot. Median concentration of Cu at birth (day 1) was 522.8 [387.1–679.7] μg/L, and Zn was 1642.4 ± 438.1 μg/L. Cu and Zn correlated positively with gestational age in control newborns. Cu increased in infected newborns from day 1 to day 3. CP correlated positively to Cu levels at birth in both groups and on day 3 in the group of infected neonates. The Cu/Zn ratio was relatively high in infected newborns. Interleukin (IL)-6 concentrations on day 1 were unrelated to Cu, Zn, or the Cu/Zn ratio, whereas C-reactive protein (CRP) levels on day 3 correlated positively to the Cu/Zn -ratio at both day 1 and day 3. We conclude that infections affect the trace element homeostasis in newborns: serum Zn is reduced, while Cu and CP are increased. The Cu/Zn ratio combines both alterations, independent of gestational age. It may, thus, constitute a meaningful diagnostic biomarker for early-onset infections.
Highlights
Copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are trace elements essential for life and constitute components of numerous enzymes with high importance for survival and function of eukaryotic cells [1,2,3,4]
Newborns in the control group had on average a lower gestational age, and lower birth weight
Our results indicate that both trace elements increase in plasma with
Summary
Copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are trace elements essential for life and constitute components of numerous enzymes with high importance for survival and function of eukaryotic cells [1,2,3,4]. The maturing immune system relies on these trace elements [2,3,5,6], especially for antibody production (Cu, Zn), function of neutrophils and monocytes (Cu) [6], the viability, proliferation, and differentiation of cells of both the innate and adaptive immune system (Zn), as well as for the maintenance of the skin and mucosal barriers (Zn) [3,6]. Both a deficiency and an excess of Cu or Zn can cause harm, so the homeostasis of both elements is strictly regulated [1,2,3]. The latter acts as a dynamic Cu and Nutrients 2017, 9, 343; doi:10.3390/nu9040343 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients
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