An article published in Inflammopharmacology reported that zinc is a trace element which is essential to the structure and function of several macromolecules, such as the enzymes that regulate cellular processes and cellular signaling pathways. This mineral regulates immune response and exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.

The authors explained that zinc impedes the oxidative processes in the long run by inducing the expression of metallothioneins. These metal-binding cysteine-rich proteins maintain zinc-related cell homeostasis and act as potent electrophilic scavengers and cytoprotective agents. Zinc also heightens the activation of antioxidant proteins and enzymes, including glutathione and catalase. Zinc is known to exert its antioxidant effect via two acute mechanisms - one of these is the stabilization of protein sulfhydryls against oxidation. The second mechanism involves antagonizing transition metal-catalyzed reactions. This trace element can exchange redox active metals, such as copper and iron, in certain binding sites and vitiate cellular site-specific oxidative injury.

Researchers have found that physiological reconstitution of zinc restricts immune activation, while deficiency of zinc, in the setting of severe infection, incites a systemic increase in Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB) activation. Additionally, in vitro studies have shown that zinc decreases NF-κB activation and its target genes, such as TNF-α and IL-1β, and tends to enhance the gene expression of A20 and PPAR-α—the two zinc finger proteins that have anti-inflammatory potential. Alternative NF-κB inhibitory mechanism is initiated by the inhibition of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. Another presumed mechanism consists in inhibition of IκB kinase in response to infection by zinc ions that have been imported into cells by ZIP8.

In inference, it was stated that zinc does not affect a single component of human immune system, but has an impact on several aspects of the immune system, including hematopoiesis, innate immunity, adaptive immune response and processes involved in immune regulation. Impaired zinc homeostasis, constantly increased proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress feature in numerous chronic diseases. Zinc supplementation adjusted to the actual requirement may serve as a potential preventive and therapeutic agent.

Source: Jarosz M, Olbert M, Wyszogrodzka G, et al. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of zinc: Zinc-dependent NF-κB signalling. Inflammopharmacology. 2017; 25(1): 11–24.0020.