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Zinc Update: Zinc and antiviral immune signalling

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Dr KK Aggarwal    09 August 2020

 Anti-viral immunity is vital to recover from COVID-19 infection. Micronutrient deficiency suppresses immune functions by affecting the T-cell-mediated immune response and adaptive antibody response, and alters the balanced host response. Supplementation with certain vitamins/trace elements enhances immunity in viral infections.  Zinc is essential for normal function and development of cells regulating nonspecific immunity, including natural killer cells and neutrophils. It plays a key role in growth, development, and maintenance of immune function. Zinc status is a critical factor that affects immunity against viral infections

The Zinc factor in anti-viral immunity

  • Reduces production of type I IFNs and interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) CD80 and CD86 in response to TLR7 activation
  • Inhibits IRF3-, and IRF7-dependent production of IFNB
  • Stimulates expression of the deubiquitinating enzyme A20 to inhibit pathogen response
  • Reduces IFN secretion by destabilizing sortilin mRNA transcripts
  • Inhibits IκB kinase (IKK) members IKKa and IKKβ
  • Increases IFN a production by leukocytes
  • Inhibits IFN-λ3 signaling
  • Inhibits protein tyrosine phosphatase enzymatic activity

Source:  Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2020 Apr 16. Adv Nutr 2019;10:696–710. Int J Mol Med 2020 Apr 14.

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