Zinc Assists the Immune Response

Previously, a number of studies suggest that zinc deficiency may be linked to increased inflammation. Daren L. Knoell, from Ohio State University (Ohio, USA), and colleagues studied the activity of zinc to control sepsis, the severe systemic response to infection that can lead to death. Using cell models, the team focused on the role of zinc to prevent the inflammation that leads to sepsis; they found that when a pathogen is recognized, the gene that produces the zinc transporter ZIP8 is expressed. This transporter then rapidly moves to cell’s walls, where it shuttles zinc from the bloodstream into the cell; after cell entry, zinc is then directed to and bonds to a protein that halts further activity. The study authors conclude that:  “Our findings identify a negative feedback loop that directly regulates innate immune function through coordination of zinc metabolism.”