Zinc-Dependent Failure of Thymic Hormone in Human Pathologies

Fabris, Ν.; Mocchegiani, Eugenio; Palloni, R

doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-0723-5_133

Trace Elements in Man and Animals 6 1988

DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4613-0723-5_133

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Zinc-Dependent Failure of Thymic Hormone in Human Pathologies

Ν. Fabris

Eugenio Mocchegiani

R Palloni

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1989

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Cited by 4 publications

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“…According to our previous observations, a reduced plasma level of thymulin may reflect not only a defective production by the thymus but also reduced peripheral activation of the hormone molecules by zinc ions because it occurs in different and more or less profound zinc deficiencies (29,30). In such a case, biologically inactive hormone molecules may be found that behave as inhibitors of thymulin activity (29).…”

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confidence: 95%

Zinc-Dependent Low Thymic Hormone Level in Type I Diabetes

et al. 1989

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Zinc is required for optimal functioning of the immune system. It was recently reported that one of the best-known thymic hormones responsible for the maturation and differentiation of the thymus-derived T-lymphocyte line, i.e., serum thymic factor (STF), is biologically active only when bound to zinc ions; in this form it has been called thymulin (Zn-STF). Because low serum and tissue zinc values have been reported to occur in diabetic conditions, and because defects of T-lymphocyte-dependent functions are also present in diabetic patients, even metabolically well-controlled diabetic patients, we investigated the serum level of zinc and the plasma level of both active Zn-STF and inactive STF thymic hormones in 15 young patients suffering from type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes. Serum zinc levels were significantly reduced in diabetic conditions and did not correlate with the degree of metabolic compensation measured by glycosylated hemoglobin. In diabetes, the active form of thymulin is strongly reduced, whereas the inactive form is abnormally elevated. In vitro zinc addition to diabetic plasma samples also induces zinc saturation of inactive thymic hormone molecules: the total thymic hormone measured in these experimental conditions shows values in diabetic patients comparable with those observed in healthy age-matched individuals, suggesting that low thymulin levels recorded in diabetic conditions are due not to a thymic failure in synthesizing and secreting thymic hormone but to a peripheral defect in zinc saturation of the hormone molecules. The zinc-dependent failure of thymic hormone, present even in fairly compensated diabetic conditions, might account for the apparent insulin-independent immunological abnormalities associated with type I diabetes.

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confidence: 95%

Zinc-Dependent Low Thymic Hormone Level in Type I Diabetes

et al. 1989

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Recovery of low thymic hormone levels in cancer patients by lysine-arginine combination

Mocchegiani

Cacciatore

Talarico³

et al. 1990

International Journal of Immunopharmacology

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Plasma zinc level and thymic hormone activity in young cancer patients

Mocchegiani

Paolucci

Granchi

et al. 1994

Blood

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It has been reported that in many neoplastic diseases, including leukemia, alterations in plasma zinc levels may frequently occur, although the causes for such alterations have yet to be clearly defined. Since zinc is required to induce biological activity to thymulin (Zn-FTS), a biochemical defined thymic hormone, and marginal zinc deficiencies may prevent its peripheral biological activation, we investigated the plasma level of zinc and of both active thymulin (Zn- FTS) and total zinc saturable thymulin (Zn-FTS + FTS) in 91 young patients affected by acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at various stages of the disease. It was discovered that the plasma zinc level was reduced at the onset and relapse, whereas in complete remission and in off-therapy it was in the normal range. Total zinc-saturable thymulin concentration did not change during the disease, whereas the active fraction was reduced at the onset and in relapse when compared with values observed in the other stages of the disease or in healthy controls. These data suggest that zinc plasma deficiency is present in ALL patients at the onset and during relapse, and that such a deficiency causes a decrease in the activity of thymulin despite a nearly normal production by the thymus. An impairment of peripheral immune efficiency in ALL patients is commonly found. The existence of positive correlations between zinc or active thymulin and peripheral immunological parameters (phytohemagglutinin [PHA] and concanavalin A [ConA]) at various stages of the disease suggests a link between derangement of peripheral immune function, thymic hormone activity, and zinc failure. These findings, considered together, suggest the possibility of a carefully controlled clinic trial with zinc in ALL patients at the onset and in relapse even in the light of in vitro ineffectiveness of physiological zinc or thymulin concentrations on the duplicative index of human lymphoblastoid cells.

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Zinc-Dependent Failure of Thymic Hormone in Human Pathologies

Cited by 4 publications

References 4 publications

Zinc-Dependent Low Thymic Hormone Level in Type I Diabetes

Zinc-Dependent Low Thymic Hormone Level in Type I Diabetes

Recovery of low thymic hormone levels in cancer patients by lysine-arginine combination

Plasma zinc level and thymic hormone activity in young cancer patients

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