Zinc appears to play a key role in modulating the body's response to severe infection, and its deficiency may increase susceptibility to a deadly immune response, according to a study by Ohio State University researchers published in the journal "PLOS ONE."

"When the body detects sepsis, zinc is needed to help produce immune response proteins, and it is also used to stop their production,"
says lead author Daren Knoell, PharmD, PhD, "However, zinc deficiencies during an infection, seems to cause catastrophic dysfunction
of the system, resulting in a prolonged and enlarged inflammatory response. "

Zinc prevents immune overreaction

Sepsis is an inflammatory reaction throughout the body in response to severe infection and is one of the leading causes of death in intensive care units in the United States. One-fifth of all cases result in death, as the overload of inflammatory chemicals produced by the immune system ultimately causes organ failure.

Previous research by the same team found that when zinc-deficient mice develop sepsis, they were three times more likely to die than non-deficient mice with the same condition. They also found that when zinc-deficient mice were given zinc supplements, their survival rate from sepsis was improved.

In another study, researchers found that zinc helps regulate the activity of an immune protein called IKK-beta, part of the immune regulatory pathway of NF-kappa B. In the presence of more zinc, the pathway successfully reduces levels of inflammation and cell damage.

"This research builds on our previous findings and further shows that our immune system requires zinc to achieve
a balanced and effective defense against violent infection," Knoell said. "This news further shows interest in determining the extent
to which zinc may be useful in preventing or treating sepsis, particularly in patients who may be zinc deficient. "

Zinc can prevent Alzheimer's disease, heart disease?

In the new study, researchers performed DNA genome analysis of DNA taken from lung tissue of zinc deficient mice with sepsis. They needed to look at the whole genome, because zinc plays an important role in the body - interacting with more than 10,000 distinct proteins - and its specific effects may therefore be difficult to determine through observation on a larger scale.

The researchers found that when the mice had sepsis, zinc deficiency caused changes in different domains, including the JAK-STAT3 pathway, which regulates the production of the inflammatory protein serum amyloid A (SAA). These changes prevent the body from being able to turn off the inflammatory response, ultimately leading to the destruction of healthy cells.

Without zinc present in sufficient amounts, the JAK-STAT pathway continues to give genes the "on" signal, and thus continues the production of this inflammatory protein," Knoell said. "When we add zinc into the equation, it stops the production of ASA and acute response activity.

Knoell notes that ASA has also been linked to other inflammatory diseases, including cardiovascular and Alzheimer's disease.

"These findings not only provide evidence for why zinc-based cold remedies may be effective,
but also provide guidance on how zinc imbalance may also play a role in chronic inflammation-related diseases," he said.

Unfortunately, physicians cannot prevent sepsis simply by giving zinc supplements to deficient patients after they become ill. Instead, it is important that people get enough zinc in their diet and avoid deficiency in the first place. -