Abstract
The effects of zinc on interleukin-2(IL-2)-dependent T cell responses of lymphocytes from immunodepressed aged mice and from young adult animals were studied. Concentrations of zinc which have been shown to restore antibody formation in cells from aged mice and to increase the production of Il-1 and Il-4 inhibited the production of Il-2. Cells from both young adults and aged mice were inhibited similarly. Zinc also impaired the ability of aged T cells to proliferate in response to concanavalin A and exogeneous Il-2, but enhanced the proliferation of similarly activated splenic cultures containing both T and B cells. Cultures of isolated B lymphocytes produced antibody to sheep red blood cells if the cells were provided with supplemental zinc and Il-1. In contrast, recombinant Il-2 with or without zinc did not activate antibody formation. The results support the premise that the restorative effects of zinc are independent of Il-2 and that Il-2 is not a necessary mediator for antibody production in the aged.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
