Role of zinc and alpha2 macroglobulin on thymic endocrine activity and on peripheral immune efficiency (natural killer activity and interleukin 2) in cervical carcinoma.
Br J Cancer
; 79(2): 244-50, 1999 Jan.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-9888464
ABSTRACT
Decreased natural killer (NK) activity as well as interleukin 2 (IL-2) are risk factors for the progression of cervical carcinoma. NK activity and IL-2 may be thymus controlled. Plasma levels of active thymulin, a zinc-dependent thymic hormone (ZnFTS), are reduced in cancer because of the low peripheral zinc bioavailability. Zinc and thymulin are relevant for normal immune functions. Alpha2-macroglobulin is an inhibitor of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) against invasive tumour proliferation. Because alpha2-macroglobulin has a binding affinity (Kd) for zinc that is higher than does thymulin, it may play a key role in immune efficiency in cancer. Plasma samples of 22 patients (age range 35-60 years) with locally advanced squamous cervical carcinoma and with FIGO stage Ib2-IIb were examined. They showed reduced active thymulin, decreased NK activity and IL-2 production, increased soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and augmented alpha2-macroglobulin in the circulation, whereas plasma zinc levels were within the normal range for age. Significant positive correlations were found between zinc or active thymulin and alpha2-macroglobulin (r = 0.75, P < 0.01, r = 0.78, P < 0.01, respectively) in cancer patients. In vitro zinc increases IL-2 production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of cancer patients. These data suggest that an increase in alpha2-macroglobulin, which competes with thymulin for zinc binding, may be involved in causing a thymulin deficit with a consequent decrease of IL-2 and NK cytotoxicity. Thus, physiological zinc treatment in cervical carcinoma maybe restores impaired central and peripheral immune efficiency.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Fator Tímico Circulante
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Zinco
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Alfa-Macroglobulinas
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Células Matadoras Naturais
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Carcinoma de Células Escamosas
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Neoplasias do Colo do Útero
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Interleucina-2
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Br J Cancer
Ano de publicação:
1999
Tipo de documento:
Article