Zinc in Infection and Inflammation

Title	Zinc in Infection and Inflammation
Authors	Nour Zahi Gammoh, Lothar Rink
Magazine	Nutrients
Date	06/17/2017
DOI	10.3390/nu9060624
Introduction	Maintaining micronutrient homeostasis is crucial for a competent immune system. Zinc, an essential micronutrient, regulates innate and adaptive immune responses. Zinc deficiency, primarily due to malnutrition, leads to immune dysfunctions that exacerbate bacterial infections and sepsis outcomes. Zinc is vital in pathogen-eliminating pathways and promotes cell-mediated immunity over humoral immunity by influencing differentiation factors. It modulates inflammation, heightening inflammatory responses and tissue damage. Zinc targets NF-κB, a key transcription factor, to control proinflammatory responses and oxidative stress, regulating inflammatory cytokines. Zinc's role is complex, vital for proper immune function, and its homeostasis is essential for effective immune responses. This review outlines recent insights into zinc's role in infections and inflammatory responses and how the immune system adjusts zinc levels based on various stimuli.
Quote	Nour Zahi Gammoh and Lothar Rink. Zinc in Infection and Inflammation. Nutrients. 2017. Vol. 9(6). DOI: 10.3390/nu9060624
Element	Zinc (Zn)
Topics	Biomedical Materials