Zinc, oxidative stress and T lymphocyte signalling

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The research program has been investigating the role of zinc in immune function and antioxidant defense. We have found that zinc deficiency does not alter the proportions of developing T cells in the thymus. However, zinc deficiency reduces the proportion of the newly released T cells (which were produced in the thymus) when the subtypes of T cells in the blood and spleen are analyzed. We have also found that a protein called 'Lck' is elevated in the T cells from the thymus and spleen of zinc-deficient rats. We are proposing that the oxidative stress associated with zinc deficiency and changes in the intracellular free zinc contribute to altered cell signaling and the changes in immune cell types and functions. The overall objective of the current application is to determine the effects of zinc deficiency and oxidative stress on various components of T cell signaling and the relationships with markers of cellular stress and intracellular zinc. Another objective is to investigate the effects of dietary zinc deficiency and zinc supplementation on T cell subpopulations and T cell function in a model of chronic oxidative stress. This research program contributes to the basic sciences understanding of nutritional immunology.