Baarz BR, Laurentius T, Wolf J, Wessels I, Bollheimer LC, Rink L. Short-term zinc supplementation of zinc-deficient seniors counteracts CREMα - mediated IL-2 suppression.
Immun Ageing 2022;
19:40. [PMID:
36042501 PMCID:
PMC9424813 DOI:
10.1186/s12979-022-00295-8]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Background
Aging is accompanied by a dramatic decline in the interleukin (IL)-2 production capacity of human immune cells, thus making seniors more susceptible to a variety of age-related diseases. A common cause of impaired cytokine production in advanced age is a deficiency of the essential micronutrient zinc. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms underlying a zinc deficiency-induced decrease in IL-2 production have not yet been satisfactorily elucidated. Recent animal and in vitro data suggested that the transcription factor cAMP-responsive element modulator (CREM) \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{wasysym}
\usepackage{amsfonts}
\usepackage{amssymb}
\usepackage{amsbsy}
\usepackage{mathrsfs}
\usepackage{upgreek}
\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt}
\begin{document}$$\alpha$$\end{document}α plays a critical role in T cells´ disturbed IL-2 production in suboptimal zinc conditions. However, its role in the human aging process and the possibility of influencing this detrimental process by short-term zinc supplementation have not yet been evaluated.
Results
Comparing peripheral lymphocytes of 23 young and 31 elderly subjects with either high, intermediate, or deficient zinc status, we observed zinc-dependent regulation of the IL-2 production mediated by the transcription factor CREM \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{wasysym}
\usepackage{amsfonts}
\usepackage{amssymb}
\usepackage{amsbsy}
\usepackage{mathrsfs}
\usepackage{upgreek}
\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt}
\begin{document}$$\alpha$$\end{document}α. For the first time in humans, we report a mutual relationship between low zinc levels, high CREM \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{wasysym}
\usepackage{amsfonts}
\usepackage{amssymb}
\usepackage{amsbsy}
\usepackage{mathrsfs}
\usepackage{upgreek}
\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt}
\begin{document}$$\alpha$$\end{document}α expression, subsequent impaired IL-2 production, and vice versa. Remarkably, an average of only 6 days of in vivo zinc supplementation to zinc-deficient seniors was sufficient to rapidly improve zinc status, reverse CREM \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{wasysym}
\usepackage{amsfonts}
\usepackage{amssymb}
\usepackage{amsbsy}
\usepackage{mathrsfs}
\usepackage{upgreek}
\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt}
\begin{document}$$\alpha$$\end{document}α overexpression, and counteract subsequent low IL-2 production rates.
Conclusions
Our ex vivo and in vivo data identify zinc deficiency-mediated CREM \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{wasysym}
\usepackage{amsfonts}
\usepackage{amssymb}
\usepackage{amsbsy}
\usepackage{mathrsfs}
\usepackage{upgreek}
\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt}
\begin{document}$$\alpha$$\end{document}α overexpression as a key cellular mechanism underlying impaired IL-2 production in the elderly and point toward the use of zinc as a rapidly immune-enhancing add-on nutraceutical in geriatric therapy.
Graphical abstract
During the aging process, there is a progressive decrease in zinc status, which in turn leads to overexpression of the transcription factor CREM\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{wasysym}
\usepackage{amsfonts}
\usepackage{amssymb}
\usepackage{amsbsy}
\usepackage{mathrsfs}
\usepackage{upgreek}
\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt}
\begin{document}$$\mathrm{\alpha }$$\end{document}α in peripheral lymphocytes. CREMα is a negative regulator of the IL-2 gene, the overexpression of which dramatically limits adequate IL-2 production. This deleterious mechanism can be counteracted by short-term oral zinc administration, which can adjust IL-2 production in old, zinc-deficient individuals to a level similar to that of young adults.![]()
Collapse