Effects of Zinc Deficiency on Th1/Th2 Cytokine in Asthmatic Rats / 实用儿科临床杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of zinc deficiency on the expressions of Th1/Th2 cytokine interferon-?(IFN-?) and interleukin-4(IL-4)in asthmatic rats.Methods Animal models of asthma and zinc deficiency were established.Thirty-two SD rats were divided into 4 groups according to weightzinc deficient diet with ovalbumin(OVA) challenge group(group A),zinc normal diet with OVA challenge group(group B),zinc normal pair-fed diet with OVA challenge group(group C) and zinc normal diet with saline challenge group(group D).The contents of IFN-? and IL-4 in lung homogenate were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The levels of IFN-? and IL-4 mRNAs were observed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Compared with group D,the content and mRNA expression of IFN-? of lung in group A,group B and group C all decreased significantly(all P0.05).No marked difference was found between group B and group C in all the results.Conclusions Zinc deficiency reduces the expression of IFN-? but have no influence on IL-4.The imbalance of Th1/Th2 cytokine may be associated with the increasing airway inflammatory reaction in zinc deficient asthmatic rats.