Table 1 Zinc and Immune Cell Functions

Macrophages

MT-knockout results in defects in phagocytosis and antigen presentation

[73]

Dendritic cells

Zinc induces maturation and increases surface MHCII

[70]

NK cells

Zinc increases cytotoxicity and restores IFN-γ production

[50, 52, 61]

NKT cells

Zinc release from MTs in limited during chronic stress. Stress and inflammation induce MT gene expression, further sequestering zinc

[31, 66, 67]

iNKT cells

Cells lacking PLZF lack innate cytotoxicity and do not secrete IL-4 and IFN-γ

[68]

CD4 thymocytes

Zinc deficiency elevates glucocorticoid levels, causing apoptosis and reduced numbers of thymocytes

[52, 57]

CD4 helper T cells

Zinc deficiency shifts Th1 to Th2 response via altered cytokine release

[10, 48, 56, 176]

CD8 thymocytes

Zinc deficiency results in reduced numbers of thymocytes due glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis

[48, 52]

T cells

Zinc deficiency results in decreased function due reduced biologically active thymulin

[53–55]

T reg

?

Mast cells

Required for IL-6 and TNF-α production

[71, 72]