Zinc and Sepsis

Abstract

Sepsis, defined as a “life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host-response to infection” is a major health issue worldwide and still lacks a fully elucidated pathobiology and uniform diagnostic tests. The trace element zinc is known to be crucial to ensure an appropriate immune response. During sepsis a redistribution of zinc from serum into the liver has been observed and several studies imply a correlation between zinc and sepsis outcome. Therefore the alterations of zinc concentrations in different tissues might serve as one part of the host’s defense mechanism against pathogens during sepsis by diverse mechanisms. It has been suggested that zinc is involved in nutritional immunity, acts as a hepatoprotective agent, or a differentiation signal for innate immune cells, or supports the synthesis of acute phase proteins. Further knowledge about these events could help in the evaluation of how zinc could be optimally applied to improve treatment of septic patients. Moreover, the changes in zinc homeostasis are substantial and correlate with the severity of the disease, suggesting that zinc might also be useful as a diagnostic marker for evaluating the severity and predicting the outcome of sepsis.

Zinkmangel im Fokus: Ursachen, Symptome, Diagnose und Therapie

“…Verschiedene Untersuchungen mit Zinksupplementierung bei Sepsis kamen zu uneinheitlichen Ergebnissen. Eine moderate Zinksupplementierung könnte aber in Fällen von präexistentem Zinkmangel hilfreich sein [2].…”

Zinc in Liver Fibrosis

“…Moreover, zinc is important in the metabolism of neurotransmitters and growth, sex, and thyroid hormones, as well as the synthesis, secretion, and storage of insulin in the Langerhans cells of the pancreas [31]. In addition, zinc has extensive roles in both the adaptive (specific) and the innate (non-specific) immune responses at multiple steps, including gene expression as well as differentiation and development of immune cells [3,32]. It has been suggested that zinc is involved in nutritional immunity, acts as a hepatoprotective agent or a differentiation signal for innate immune cells, or supports the synthesis of acute-phase proteins [32].…”

Serum Zinc Level Grading System: A Useful Model for Composite Hepatic Events in Hepatitis C Virus-Associated Liver Cirrhosis

“…Zn is an important trace element for the development of normal cells, proliferation, and differentiation. Zn in the human body has an important role as a cofactor for enzymatic reactions, regulation of inflammation, and wound healing [25][26][27]. Zn deficiency impairs phagocytic function, and decreases lymphocyte count, immunoglobulin production, and interleukin-2 production [25][26][27].…”

“…Zn in the human body has an important role as a cofactor for enzymatic reactions, regulation of inflammation, and wound healing [25][26][27]. Zn deficiency impairs phagocytic function, and decreases lymphocyte count, immunoglobulin production, and interleukin-2 production [25][26][27]. Zn deficiency can lead to numerous disorders, such as dermatitis, hair loss, anemia, stomatitis, sexual dysfunction in male, abnormal taste, susceptibility, and osteoporosis [25][26][27].…”

“…Zn deficiency impairs phagocytic function, and decreases lymphocyte count, immunoglobulin production, and interleukin-2 production [25][26][27]. Zn deficiency can lead to numerous disorders, such as dermatitis, hair loss, anemia, stomatitis, sexual dysfunction in male, abnormal taste, susceptibility, and osteoporosis [25][26][27]. LC patients tend to have lower serum Zn levels, and decreased serum Zn levels can be linked to a poor quality of life in LC patients [28].…”