thymic-factor--circulating and Nutrition-Disorders

Topics: Adult; Aged; Animals; Antibody-Producing Cells; Cell Membrane; Child; Female; Humans; Hypersensitivity, Delayed; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphopenia; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Nutrition Disorders; Pregnancy; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic; Thymic Factor, Circulating; Zinc

Levels of zinc in plasma from patients with Crohn's disease were significantly lower than those of sex and age matched controls. We also measured the level of plasmic thymulin, a hormone released by the thymus gland, which in its active form binds one zinc molecule. The zinc unbound form of thymulin is biologically inactive and its level in the blood is a very sensitive marker of even marginal zinc deficiency. Levels of active thymulin were significantly reduced in plasma from patients with Crohn's disease, whereas plasma concentrations of the inactive form was higher than in controls. The in vitro addition of zinc ions restored thymulin activity in plasma from patients with Crohn's disease, and induced the disappearance of the inactive form. These findings suggest the existence of a zinc dependent alteration regarding the biological function of thymic hormones in patients with Crohn's disease. Such a defect might explain some of the immunological abnormalities observed in these pathological conditions.

Topics: Adult; Biological Availability; Biomarkers; Crohn Disease; Female; Humans; Male; Nutrition Disorders; Thymic Factor, Circulating; Zinc

Facteur thymique sérique activity was evaluated in relation to different types of malnutrition in Senegalese children aged 5 to 42 months. They were classified in four groups: controls, moderate malnutrition, marasmus, and kwashiorkor, according to anthropometric measurements and clinical examination. The two latter groups were characterized by very depressed levels of total protein, album in, transferrin and prealbumin, and by high cortisol concentrations. Zinc status was marginal in all children. Facteur thymique sérique activity, determined by the rosette assay, was normal in the malnourished patients suggesting that moderate as well as severe malnutrition is not necessarily associated with depressed levels of circulating thymic hormone. These results are discussed in relation to zinc status and infections.

Topics: Blood Proteins; Child, Preschool; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Kwashiorkor; Nutrition Disorders; Protein-Energy Malnutrition; Rosette Formation; Senegal; Thymic Factor, Circulating; Thymus Hormones; Zinc