THE EFFECT OF ZINC DEFICIENCY ON THE PHENOTYPES AND SUBSETS OF PERIPHERAL BLOOD LYMPHOCYTES IN GROWING RATS / 营养学报

ABSTRACT

Objective: To observe the effects of zinc deficiency on peripheral blood lymphocyte phenotypic distribution and the balance between Th1 and Th2 cells in growing rats. Methods: Two-color cytofluorometric analysis was used. Results: Compared with zinc adequate (ZA) and paired-fed (PF) groups, peripheral blood lymphocytes in zinc deficient (ZD) rats had higher percentage of CD8+ cells (cytolytic T cells), lower percentage of CD4+ cells (T helper cells) and lower percentage of CD45RA+ cells (pure B lymphocytes).In addition, zinc deficiency selectively caused reduction of Th1-like CD45RC+CD4+ cells , but Th2-like CD45RC-CD4+cells had no significant changes in weanling rats. Zinc supplementation could reverse these changes. Conclusion: Dietary zinc deficiency leads to changes of lymphocyte phenotypic distribution and the imbalance of Th1 and Th2 subsets. These changes are reversible.