A prospective observational study regarding host-derived immunological parameters around zirconia implants in comparison to natural teeth following flap surgery.

With the increasing use of dental implants in patients undergoing extensive mandibular reconstructions, it is crucial to understand how soft tissues react in different implantation contexts. The aim was to compare the behavior of the soft tissues surrounding zirconia implants to that of the soft tissues surrounding natural teeth in terms of cytokine levels in patients who had undergone various microvascular flap procedures for jaw reconstruction. Due to anatomical deviations after flap surgery, such as thick skin paddles, the possibility of fixed implant dentures in patients with bony flaps is rare.

Increase of Intracellular Zinc Levels Rather Than Zinc Influx Inhibits Interleukin-2 Production in Zinc Supplemented Jurkat Cells.

The essential trace element zinc is a well-known modulator of T cell activation. There have been contradictory findings for the impact of zinc supplementation on T cell activation. In our study, we aimed to analyze IL-2 production in Jurkat T cells during zinc supplementation in response to different stimuli.

ZIP10 as a potential therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukaemia.

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a haematopoietic malignancy that continues to demonstrate lapses in current treatment modalities as evidenced by therapy refractory disease, disease relapse and high rates of lethality. The influence of nutritional factors, including trace elements, on disease development and progression is not yet well understood. We utilized AML cell lines and patient samples to further investigate zinc homeostasis and the dependency of leukaemic cells on zinc.

Zinc supplementation among zinc-deficient vegetarians and vegans restores antiviral interferon-α response by upregulating interferon regulatory factor 3.

Background & Aims: Sufficient zinc status is crucial for undisturbed immune function. Further, dietary zinc requirements are mainly covered by animal products. Consequently, plant-based diets have been repeatedly linked to zinc deficiency.

Zinc deficiency as possible link between immunosenescence and age-related diseases.

As global life expectancy increases, research reveals a critical challenge in aging: the progressive deterioration of immune function, termed immunosenescence. This age-related immune decline is characterized by a complex dysregulation of immune responses, which leaves older adults increasingly vulnerable to infections, chronic inflammatory states, and various degenerative diseases. Without intervention, immunosenescence significantly contributes to morbidity and mortality among the elderly, intensifying healthcare burdens and diminishing quality of life on both individual and societal levels.

Short-term oral zinc supplementation enhances Natural Killer cell functionality and decreases circulating Innate Lymphoid Cell counts and frequencies in healthy young adults.

Background: Zinc is an essential trace element with high importance for immune function. Previous research has shown that vegetarians and vegans are at increased risk of zinc deficiency, due to low zinc bioavailability in plant-based food. However, its effects on immune parameters in healthy adults following these diets remain largely unexplored.

Zinc Deficiency Exacerbates Lead-Induced Interleukin-2 Suppression by Regulating CREM Expression.

Lead, a prevalent heavy metal, impairs the immune system by affecting T cell function. Similarly, zinc deficiency adversely affects T cells, with zinc deficiency and lead exposure being linked to reduced interleukin-2 (IL-2) production. Zinc deficiency has been associated with increased expression of the transcription factor CREM 100 kDa, which downregulates IL-2.

Zinc deficiency impairs the development of human regulatory B cells from purified B cells.

Zinc is a vital trace element, important for many different immune processes and adequate functionality. B cell development is known to be dependent on sufficient zinc supply. Recently a regulatory B cell (Breg) population has been identified, as CD19IL-10 B cells, able to regulate immune responses by secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-10.

Molecular Hydrogen and Extracorporeal Gas Exchange: A Match Made in Heaven? An In Vitro Pilot Study.

Extracorporeal circulation (ECC) is frequently implemented in a vast array of modalities such as hemodialysis, cardiopulmonary bypass, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and others. Patients receiving any such therapy are frequently encumbered with chronic inflammation, which is inherently accompanied by oxidative stress. However, ECC treatments themselves are also responsible for sustaining or promoting inflammation.

Zinc Supplementation Reduces the Formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps by Decreasing the Expression of Peptidyl Arginine Deiminase 4.

Scope: Neutrophils play a decisive role during the immediate defense against infections. However, as observed during rheumatoid arthritis, activated neutrophils can also cause tissue damage. Previous studies indicate that zinc supplementation may alter certain neutrophil functions.

Zinc Deficiency and Zinc Supplementation in Allergic Diseases.

In recent decades, it has become clear that allergic diseases are on the rise in both Western and developing countries. The exact reason for the increase in prevalence has not been conclusively clarified yet. Multidimensional approaches are suspected in which diet and nutrition seem to play a particularly important role.

Ca signals are essential for T-cell proliferation, while Zn signals are necessary for T helper cell 1 differentiation.

The regulation of T-cell fate is crucial for the balance between infection control and tolerance. Calcium (Ca) and zinc (Zn) signals are both induced after T-cell stimulation, but their specific roles in the fate of activation and differentiation remain to be elucidated. Are Zn- and Ca signals responsible for different aspects in T-cell activation and differentiation and do they act in concert or in opposition? It is crucial to understand the interplay of the intracellular signals to influence the fate of T cells in diseases with undesirable T-cell activities or in Zn-deficient patients.

Zinc Toxicity: Understanding the Limits.

Zinc, a vital trace element, holds significant importance in numerous physiological processes within the body. It participates in over 300 enzymatic reactions, metabolic functions, regulation of gene expression, apoptosis and immune modulation, thereby demonstrating its essential role in maintaining overall health and well-being. While zinc deficiency is associated with significant health risks, an excess of this trace element can also lead to harmful effects.

Zinc Ionophore Pyrithione Mimics CD28 Costimulatory Signal in CD3 Activated T Cells.

Zinc is an essential trace element that plays a crucial role in T cell immunity. During T cell activation, zinc is not only structurally important, but zinc signals can also act as a second messenger. This research investigates zinc signals in T cell activation and their function in T helper cell 1 differentiation.

A combined biochemical and cellular approach reveals Zn-dependent hetero- and homodimeric CD4 and Lck assemblies in T cells.

The CD4 or CD8 co-receptors' interaction with the protein-tyrosine kinase Lck initiates the tyrosine phosphorylation cascade leading to T cell activation. A critical question is: to what extent are co-receptors and Lck coupled? Our contribution concerns Zn, indispensable for CD4 and CD8-Lck formation. We combined biochemical and cellular approaches to show that dynamic fluctuations of free Zn in physiological ranges influence Zn(CD4) and Zn(CD4)(Lck) species formation and their ratio, although the same Zn(Cys)(Cys) cores.

Combating Black Fungus: Using Allicin as a Potent Antifungal Agent against Mucorales.

Invasive fungal (IF) diseases are a leading global cause of mortality, particularly among immunocompromised individuals. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic further exacerbated this scenario, intensifying comorbid IF infections such as mucormycoses of the nasopharynx. In the work reported here, it is shown that zygomycetes, significant contributors to mycoses, are sensitive to the natural product allicin.

Leukemia cells accumulate zinc for oncofusion protein stabilization.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are both hematological malignancies characterized by genetic alterations leading to the formation of oncofusion proteins. The classical chromosomal aberrations in APL and CML result in the PML-RARα and BCR-ABL1 oncofusion proteins, respectively. Interestingly, our flow cytometric analyses revealed elevated free intracellular zinc levels in various leukemia cells, which may play a role in stabilizing oncofusion proteins in leukemia and thus support cell proliferation and malignancy.

Targeted DNA Methylation Analysis Facilitates Leukocyte Counts in Dried Blood Samples.

Background: Cell-type specific DNA methylation (DNAm) can be employed to determine the numbers of leukocyte subsets in blood. In contrast to conventional methods for leukocyte counts, which are based on cellular morphology or surface marker protein expression, the cellular deconvolution based on DNAm levels is applicable for frozen or dried blood. Here, we further enhanced targeted DNAm assays for leukocyte counts in clinical application.

Zinc Modulates Glutamine Metabolism in T Cells.

Scope: Zinc and glutamine are well known to be essential for the function and polarization of immune cells. T 17 cells are more frequently induced during zinc deficiency and cover their energy requirement mainly through glutaminolysis. A dysregulation of T 17 cells can contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases.

The Influence of Zinc and Citrate on T Cell Activation and Differentiation in Mixed Lymphocyte Cultures.

Scope: Zinc is important for a balanced immune system, but the mechanisms are not yet fully elucidated. One possibility is an interaction of zinc with the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), in which zinc inhibits the mitochondrial aconitase leading to an increase in intracellular citrate concentration as described for prostate cells. Therefore, the immune modulatory effects of zinc and citrate and their interaction in mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC) are studied.

Zinc stabilized Nrf2 by inhibition of HDAC3 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Background: The transcription factor Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) induces several detoxifying proteins, which also include NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1). The expression of these Nrf2-regulated proteins is important for the maintenance of the redox homeostasis in cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of tert-butyl-hydrochinone (tBHQ) stimulation on human PBMC under normal condition and zinc depletion, respectively.

Regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 during monopoiesis and zinc deficiency by chromatin remodeling.

Introduction: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) cleaves various extracellular matrix proteins, hence significantly contributes to numerous physiological but also pathological processes. Monocytic differentiation is associated with increased MMP-9 gene expression. Interestingly, MMP-9 upregulation during monocytic differentiation is paralleled by a decline in intracellular zinc levels.

Effects of Zinc Status on Expression of Zinc Transporters, Redox-Related Enzymes and Insulin-like Growth Factor in Asian Sea Bass Cells.

Since Asian sea bass is one of the economically most important fish, aquaculture conditions are constantly optimized. Evidence from feeding studies combined with the current understanding of the importance of zinc for growth and immune defense suggest that zinc supplementation may be a possible approach to optimize aquacultures of Asian sea bass. To investigate the effects of zinc deficiency and zinc supplementation, cells from Asian sea bass were incubated in culture medium with different zinc contents.