ISSN:
1432-0428
Keywords:
Diabetes
;
zinc
;
immune system
;
lymphocyte mitogenesis
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary To evaluate the role of zinc status in immune system dysfunction in diabetic animals, the interleukin-2 production and the lymphocyte mitogenic response to phytohaemagglutinin, concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide were measured in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, diabetic rats treated with insulin and their non-diabetic controls maintained on low zinc, normal zinc and high zinc diets for 3 weeks. Unstimulated lymphocyte proliferation was significantly lower in diabetic rats compared to nondiabetic control rats maintained on normal zinc diet (1505±318 vs 3447±497 cpm) (p〈0.005) or low zinc diet (546±191 vs 4011±628cpm) (p〈0.005). High zinc diet attenuated the difference between the diabetic rats (2404±833 cpm) and control rats (3929±713 cpm). Insulinised diabetic rats were similar to control rats. Phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation was not significantly altered with dietary zinc changes, but diabetic rats on low zinc diet had significantly lower (p〈0.025) values compared to control rats on the same diet (41470±7874 vs 72308±8895 cpm). Insulinisation did not normalise phytohemaegglutinin-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation (40711±3666 cpm). Similarly, cells from diabetic rats on low zinc diet, unlike their controls, failed to respond to concanavalin A stimulation. Compared to control rats the diabetic rats on either low or normal zinc diets had lower lipopolysaccharide-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation. High zinc diet or insulinisation normalised mitogenic response of lymphocytes to lipopolysaccharide. Unlike the diabetic rats alterations in dietary zinc intake did not significantly affect the lymphocyte proliferation in control rats. Neither the diabetic state nor zinc status had any significant effect on interleukin-2 production. Thus, zinc status of the animal is an important determinant of cell-mediated immunity, but additional factors peculiar to the diabetic state may be involved in the modulation of the immune system in diabetes.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00278755
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