Effect of ZIP2 Gln/Arg/Leu (rs2234632) polymorphism on zinc homeostasis and inflammatory response following zinc supplementation.

Zinc dyshomeostasis may lead to an augmented production of proinflammatory cytokines promoting chronic inflammation and increasing the susceptibility to age-related diseases. Several studies suggest that the zinc transporter protein ZIP2 may play a relevant role in the immune system especially during zinc deficiency, while a polymorphism on the coding region of ZIP2 gene (Gln/Arg/Leu) has been associated with severe carotid artery disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of ZIP2 SNP on zinc and inflammatory status in 1090 elderly healthy free-living subjects enrolled in the ZincAge project and to assess the effect of zinc supplementation on zinc status, inflammatory mediators, and zinc transporter expression depending on ZIP2 genotype.

Influence of +1245 A/G MT1A polymorphism on advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in elderly: effect of zinc supplementation.

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) stimulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and represent a risk factor for atherosclerosis, while their formation seems to be prevented by zinc. Metallothioneins (MT), zinc-binding proteins exert an antioxidant function by regulating intracellular zinc availability and protecting cells from ROS damages. +1245 A/G MT1A polymorphism was implicated in type 2 diabetes and in cardiovascular disease development as well as in the modulation of antioxidant response.

Oxidative DNA damage and oxidative stress in subjects occupationally exposed to nitrous oxide (N(2)O).

Objectives: Occupational exposure to nitrous oxide (N(2)O) and/or halogenated hydrocarbons has been suggested to induce damage of genetic material, but the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. This study investigated the role of oxidative processes in the genotoxicity associated with exposure to waste anaesthetic gases.

Methods: The study was performed in 36 female nurses and in 36 unexposed female health care workers matched for age and employment duration.

Assessment of gene-nutrient interactions on inflammatory status of the elderly with the use of a zinc diet score--ZINCAGE study.

Although zinc plays an important role in health status of the elderly, their dietary habits in relation to zinc intake are not well documented. The main objective of the current study was the assessment of dietary zinc intake in European old populations and the investigation of its impact on plasma zinc and inflammatory cytokines concentrations, in relation to genetic markers. Within the ZINCAGE study, 819 healthy old Europeans (>or=60 years old) were recruited.

DNA damage induced by nitrous oxide: study in medical personnel of operating rooms.

Occupational exposure to anaesthetics such as nitrous oxide (N(2)O) and halogenated hydrocarbons has been suggested to increase risk of genetic damage. However, the dose-dependency of genotoxic effects has not been unequivocally established and their relation to occupational exposure limit (OEL) remain obscure. In this study, the genotoxicity associated with occupational exposure to anaesthetics has been investigated in a group of 55 female nurses and 29 male anaesthesiologists active for at least 5 years in a working environment containing variable concentrations of N(2)O and halogenated hydrocarbons.

Zinc salts differentially modulate DNA damage in normal and cancer cells.

Zinc plays an essential role in a wide range of cellular processes, including defense against free radicals and maintaining genomic stability. The presence of zinc in some proteins is fundamental for their functioning as transcription factors. Little is known about interaction between zinc and DNA, which can be important in light of reports on the role of zinc in cancer transformation and sometimes contradictory character of these reports.

Mediterranean diet and plasma concentration of inflammatory markers in old and very old subjects in the ZINCAGE population study.

Background: Aging is associated with low-grade elevation of circulating inflammatory markers, leading to increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The Mediterranean diet has been suggested as a determinant of longevity. In the current study, we investigated the impact of the Mediterranean diet on inflammatory status in old subjects.

Metallothionein downregulation in very old age: a phenomenon associated with cellular senescence?

It is known that metallothionein (MT) mRNA expression first increases with age, but then decreases again in the very elderly. Here we report that MT protein levels also decrease in very old age, and that this is independent of dietary zinc intake. Age-related changes of MT, as well as alterations of zinc homeostasis (intracellular labile zinc and NO-induced zinc release), occur both in human PBMCs ex vivo and also in CD4+ T cell clones progressing through their finite life span in vitro.

Zinc in elderly people: effects of zinc supplementation on psychological dimensions in dependence of IL-6 -174 polymorphism: a Zincage study.

Zinc is relevant for psychological dimensions, which are altered in zinc deficiency, as in aging. Since zinc deficiency and the beneficial effect of zinc supplementation may be related to genotypes of IL-6 -174 polymorphism, the main goal was to examine psychological dimensions in relationship to plasma zinc and genetic background of IL-6 in healthy elderly subjects, recruited in Italy, Greece, and Poland, before and after zinc supplementation. On the basis of IL-6 -174 polymorphism, significant restoration occurs for PSS, especially in Greece and Poland, less for MMSE and GDS, after zinc supplementation, suggesting zinc is important in reducing stress in elderly people.

Zinc deficiency and IL-6 -174G/C polymorphism in old people from different European countries: effect of zinc supplementation. ZINCAGE study.

IL-6 SNP at position -174 is associated with age-related diseases characterized by an impaired Zn status. This polymorphism seems also relevant in regulating the expression of proteins, such as Metallothioneins (MT), involved in the modulation of Zn homeostasis. Since high IL-6 levels in elderly induce hypozinchemia, the IL-6-174 SNP may be useful to identify old subjects who are at risk for Zn deficiency.

In vitro and in vivo effects of zinc on cytokine signalling in human T cells.

Aging is associated with changes in the immune response which are collectively called immunosenescence. The changes mainly affect the adaptive immune response and especially the T cell-mediated cellular immune response. There are a few data indicating that the cytokine signalling in T cells is altered with aging.

Effect of zinc supplementation on plasma IL-6 and MCP-1 production and NK cell function in healthy elderly: interactive influence of +647 MT1a and -174 IL-6 polymorphic alleles.

Pro-inflammatory cytokine response and NK activity are controlled by the availability of zinc ion, whose intra-cellular transport is regulated by metallothioneins. In order to closely examine the importance of circulating zinc in the modulation of immune response during ageing, in the balance of Th2/Th1 equilibrium and finally in the reversibility of systemic low grade inflammation, we evaluated the changes occurring in plasma IL-6 and MCP-1 concentrations and NK lytic activity in a healthy low grade inflamed elderly population, following zinc-aspartate supplementation. In addition, we aimed to highlight the potential interaction among circulating zinc increments, changes in immunological parameters and +647 MT1a and -174 IL-6 polymorphic alleles.

TH1 and TH2 cell polarization increases with aging and is modulated by zinc supplementation.

Elderly subjects suffer from increased levels of activated T cells and a TH1/TH2 imbalance. Zinc deficiency of the aged is correlated with decreased cell-mediated immune responses. The association of age and zinc adjustment with the amounts of TH1 (CCR5+) and TH2 (CCR4+) cell populations in healthy aged old donors enrolled in the European ZINCAGE project was examined.

Zinc, metallothioneins, and longevity--effect of zinc supplementation: zincage study.

Aging is an inevitable biological process that is associated with gradual and spontaneous biochemical and physiological changes and increased susceptibility to diseases. Because nutritional factors are involved in improving immune functions, metabolic harmony, and antioxidant defense, some nutritional factors, such as zinc, may modify susceptibility to disease and promote healthy aging. In vitro (human lymphocytes exposed to endotoxins) and in vivo (old or young mice fed with low zinc dietary intake) studies revealed that zinc is important for immune efficiency (innate and adaptive), antioxidant activity (supeoxide dismutase), and cell differentiation via clusterin/apolipoprotein J.

Effect of zinc on cellular poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation capacity.

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation is a posttranslational protein modification, which is catalyzed by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and plays a role in DNA repair and maintenance of genomic stability. A decrease in cellular poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation has been implicated in the aging process. As PARP-1 is a zinc finger protein its decreased function might be related to age-related zinc deficiency.

Zinc status, psychological and nutritional assessment in old people recruited in five European countries: Zincage study.

The paper shows the results on the relationship between zinc status, psychological dimensions (cognitive functions, mood, perceived stress) and nutritional aspects in European healthy old subjects recruited for ZINCAGE Project (supported by the European Commission in the Sixth Framework Programme). The old healthy subjects were recruited in Italy, Greece, Germany, France, Poland taking into account the different dietary habits between Northern and Southern European Countries and the pivotal role played by zinc for psychological functions. Measures of the cognitive status, mood and perceived stress level were obtained at baseline, using the "Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)"; the "Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS - 15 items)" and the "Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)", respectively.

The effect of weak 50 Hz magnetic fields on the number of free oxygen radicals in rat lymphocytes in vitro.

The aim of the work was verification of the hypothesis that weak power frequency (50 Hz) magnetic fields (MF) affected the number of free oxygen radicals in living biological cells and that these changes could be qualitatively explained by the radical pair mechanism. The experiments were performed on rat lymphocytes. One-hour exposure to 50 Hz MF at 20, 40, or 200 microT flux densities was performed inside a pair of Helmholtz coils with axis along or crosswise to the Earth's static MF.

Acute exposure to 930 MHz CW electromagnetic radiation in vitro affects reactive oxygen species level in rat lymphocytes treated by iron ions.

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the 930 MHz continuous wave (CW) electromagnetic field, which is the carrier of signals emitted by cellular phones, affects the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in living cells. Rat lymphocytes were used in the experiments. A portion of the lymphocytes was treated with iron ions to induce oxidative processes.

Combined exposure to m-xylene and ethanol: oxidative stress in the rat liver.

Objectives: Ethanol may be a significant combined factor in human solvent toxicity. Lipid peroxidation has been suggested to be an important contributing mechanism involved in experimental alcohol-induced liver injury. The aim of the study was to investigate whether a short-term ethanol ingestion in rats chronically exposed to m-xylene vapor may influence the lipid peroxidation rate in the intracellular hepatic membranes, the level of glutathione and the activity of glutathione-related enzymes in the liver.

[Protective effect of melatonin and vitamin E against prooxidative action of iron ions and static magnetic field].

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of melatonin and vitamin E (trolox) on the level of lipid peroxidation in rat blood lymphocytes after in vitro (3 h) exposure to iron ions and/or 7mT static magnetic field (SMF). The lipid peroxidation process was chosen as a marker of free radical mechanism of SMF in cells. The cells were supplemented with (0.

Effect of 7 mT static magnetic field and iron ions on rat lymphocytes: apoptosis, necrosis and free radical processes.

Simultaneous exposure of rat lymphocytes to 7 mT static magnetic field (SMF) and iron ions caused an increase in the number of cells with DNA damage. The mechanism by which MF induces DNA damage and the possible cytotoxic consequences are not known. However, we suppose that free radicals are involved.