Zinc improves the development of human CD34+ cell progenitors towards NK cells and increases the expression of GATA-3 transcription factor in young and old ages.

Aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of zinc on the kinetic of development of CD34(+) cell progenitors towards NK cells in young and old ages. CD34(+) cells were purified from peripheral blood of healthy subjects and cultured in medium supplemented with interleukin-15, interleukin-7, Flt 3 ligand, and stem cell factor. The number of cells developed in culture was significantly lower in old than in young subjects.

Zinc improves the development of human CD34+ cell progenitors towards Natural Killer cells and induces the expression of GATA-3 transcription factor.

The Natural Killer cell maturation from CD34(+) hematopoietic cell precursors is a complex process that requires the synergistic effect of different cytokines and growth factors. Although there have been a number of important advances in our understanding of the Natural Killer differentiation, the developmental step leading to mature Natural Killer cells is still poorly defined. We evaluated the effect of two zinc concentrations (10 and 20microM) on the kinetic of development of CD34(+) cell progenitors towards Natural Killer cells.

Psychological, neuroendocrine and immune measures in non spousal carers of disabled elderly in Italy.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether psychological well being as well as metabolic, neuroendocrine and immune functions were different in non spousal primary caregivers of disabled elderly than in controls.

Setting And Design: We randomly recruited 38 primary family carers of over 65 year old recipients of health home care services and 37 controls stratified according to sex and age.

Method: Data were collected on psychological wellbeing (including anxiety, depression and self-perceived quality of life), on neuroendocrine and immune conditions (haemanalysis and metabolic signs, plasma ACTH, cortisol, prolactin, intra-lymphocyte content of beta-endorphins, NK cell activity and number), as well as on the incidence and severity of influenza disease during previous winter.

Zinc, immune plasticity, aging, and successful aging: role of metallothionein.

The capacity of the remodeling immune responses during stress (immune plasticity) is fundamental to reach successful aging. We herein report two pivotal models to demonstrate the relevance of the immune plasticity in aging and successful aging. One model is represented by the circadian rhythms of immune responses; the other one is the immune responses during partial hepatectomy/liver regeneration (pHx).

The variations during the circadian cycle of liver CD1d-unrestricted NK1.1+TCR gamma/delta+ cells lead to successful ageing. Role of metallothionein/IL-6/gp130/PARP-1 interplay in very old mice.

NKT cells derive from the thymus and home to the liver. Liver NKT cells can be divided in two groups: 'classical' and 'non-classical'. The first is CD1d-restricted, the second is CD1d-unrestricted.

Metallothionein (I+II) confers, via c-myc, immune plasticity in oldest mice: model of partial hepatectomy/liver regeneration.

Because of its similarity to ageing in impaired immune efficiency 48 h after surgical procedures on young partially hepatectomised mice, partial hepatectomy/liver regeneration (pHx) provides a good model for the study of inflammation in ageing. In old age, high metallothionein (I+II) (MT) sequesters a substantial number of intracellular zinc ions consequently leading to low zinc ion bioavailability for an adequate immune response. Corticosterone and IL-6 affect MTmRNA induction in inflammation and after pHx against oxidative damage.

Metallothioneins/PARP-1/IL-6 interplay on natural killer cell activity in elderly: parallelism with nonagenarians and old infected humans. Effect of zinc supply.

Metallothioneins (MTs) play pivotal role in zinc-related cell homeostasis because of their high affinity for this trace element which is in turn relevant against oxidative stress and for the efficiency of the entire immune system, including natural killer (NK) cell activity. In order to accomplish this role, MTs sequester and/or dispense zinc during stress and inflammation to protect cells against reactive oxygen species. MTs gene expression is affected by IL-6 for a prompt immune response.

Interrelationships among brain, endocrine and immune response in ageing and successful ageing: role of metallothionein III isoform.

Metallothionein-III (MT-III) a brain-specific member of metallothionein family contributes to zinc neuronal homeostasis, and zinc is an important regulator of many brain functions, including the activity of hormone realising factors by hippocampus. Among them, somatostatin is pivotal because affecting thyroid hormones turnover and consequently thymic and peripheral immune efficiency (Natural Killer, NK) cell activity. Somatostatin is in turn affected by somatomedin-C, which is also zinc-dependent.

Metallothioneins (I+II) and thyroid-thymus axis efficiency in old mice: role of corticosterone and zinc supply.

Thymic atrophy or thymus absence causes depressed thyroid-thymus axis (TTA) efficiency in old, young propyl-thiouracil (PTU) (experimental hypothyroidism) and in young-adult thymectomised (Tx) mice, respectively. Altered zinc turnover may be also involved in depressed TTA efficiency. Zinc turnover is under the control of zinc-bound metallothioneins (Zn-MTs) synthesis.

MtmRNA gene expression, via IL-6 and glucocorticoids, as potential genetic marker of immunosenescence: lessons from very old mice and humans.

Metallothioneins (MTs) are involved in metal-related cell homeostasis because of their high affinity for metals forming clusters. The main functional role of MTs is to sequester and/or dispense zinc participating in zinc homeostasis, which is relevant in normal immune response. Consistent with this role, MTs gene expression (MTmRNA) is transcriptionally induced by a variety of stressing agents to protect cells from reactive oxygen species.