TY  - JOUR
A1  - Rosenkranz, Eva
A1  - Maywald, Martina
A1  - Hilgers, Ralf-Dieter
A1  - Brieger, Anne
A1  - Clarner, Tim
A1  - Kipp, Markus
A1  - Pluemaekers, Birgit
A1  - Meyer, Sören
A1  - Schwerdtle, Tanja
A1  - Rink, Lothar
T1  - Induction of regulatory T cells in Th1-/Th17-driven experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by zinc administration
JF  - The journal of nutritional biochemistry
N2  - The essential trace element zinc is indispensable for proper immune function as zinc deficiency accompanies immune defects and dysregulations like allergies, autoimmunity and an increased presence of transplant rejection. This point to the importance of the physiological and dietary control of zinc levels for a functioning immune system. This study investigates the capacity of zinc to induce immune tolerance. The beneficial impact of physiological zinc supplementation of 6 mu g/day (0.3 mg/kg body weight) or 30 mu g/day (1.5 mg/kg body weight) on murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for multiple sclerosis with a Th1/Th17 (Th, T helper) cell-dominated immunopathogenesis, was analyzed. Zinc administration diminished EAE scores in C57BL/6 mice in vivo (P<.05), reduced Th17 ROR gamma T+ cells (P<.05) and significantly increased inducible iTreg cells (P<.05). While Th17 cells decreased systemically, iTreg cells accumulated in the central nervous system. Cumulatively, zinc supplementation seems to be capable to induce tolerance in unwanted immune reactions by increasing iTreg cells. This makes zinc a promising future tool for treating autoimmune diseases without suppressing the immune system. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
KW  - Zinc
KW  - Regulatory T cells (Treg)
KW  - Foxp3
KW  - Mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC)
KW  - Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)
KW  - Th17
Y1  - 2016
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2015.11.010
SN  - 0955-2863
SN  - 1873-4847
VL  - 29
SP  - 116
EP  - 123
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - New York
ER  -