Zinc metabolism with special reference to its role in immunity

Abstract

A major goal of many poultry producers is to attain good flock liveability. Historically, most poultry producers have manipulated environmental conditions and management to maximize bird health. In the past two decades there has been much research into nutritional regimes that improve bird health through immunomodulation. Commercial poultry environments contain ubiquitous micro-organisms that continuously challenge the immune system. Nutritional supplements that enhance immune system function may improve flock performance and be economically advantageous. This paper reviews the literature on zinc-methionine and the avian cellular immune system. Current knowledge of the effects of zinc on many animal models is reviewed and a hypothetical mechanism for the action of zinc-methionine on this system is discussed. The role of metals in the production of toxic oxygen metabolites by mononuclear phagocytes. in: Nutrient Modulation of the Immune Response (Ed. Cunningham-Rundles, S.), Marcel Dekker Inc, New York, pp.127-140 CORRIER, D.E. and DELOACH, J.R. (1990) Evaluation of cell-mediated, cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity in young chickens by an interdigital skin test. Poultry Science 69: 403-408 COUSINS, R.J. (1985) Absorption, transport and hepatic metabolism of copper and zinc: Special reference to metallothionine and ceruloplasmin.

Growth Performance, Carcass Yield, and Immune Competence of Broiler Chickens as Influenced by Dietary Supplemental Zinc Sources and Levels

“…Present results on immune parameters are in agreement with earlier report [6], where optimum supplemental level of Zn was suggested to be 80-120 mg/kg diet for broiler chickens to maximize immune response. Supplementing the Zn in diets fed to broiler breeder and turkey hens increased the cellular immune response of progeny as measured by cutaneous basophil hypersensitive tests [12,13]. Similarly, earlier researchers [3,10] reported that the immune response of broilers can be affected by the levels of ZnAA in the diet.…”

Chelated minerals for poultry

“…Zinc-methionine usually has higher bioavailability than inorganic sources, and can be absorbed in its intact form, therefore potentially altering zinc balance in metabolism. Independently of the involved mechanisms, improvements were shown in some cell functions related to disease resistance when zinc-methionine was supplemented in broiler or breeder feeds (Kidd, 1996). Dietary supplementation with zinc and manganese chelates, when inorganic inclusions of these minerals where considered adequate, led to immune improvements in turkeys (Ferket & Qureshi, 1992).…”

Short communication: Inhibitory effects of dietary aflatoxin B1 on cytokines expression and T-cell subsets in the cecal tonsil of broiler chickens

“…These results indicate that both cytokines mRNA expression and T-cell subsets population in the cecal tonsil were reduced when broilers were fed with 0.6 mg/kg dietary AFB 1 . There is a close relationship between the thymus and differentiation of T lymphocytes (Kidd et al, 1996). Thymus is the place where T-cells are activated and differentiated to CD4 or CD8 T-cells, and then mature T-cells migrate from thymus to the peripheral blood and secondary immune organs (Erf et al, 1998).…”