Interleukin-1α, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-12 secreted by zinc-induced murine macrophages in vivo and in vitro

Abstract

Oral treatment of zinc modulates cytokine secretion during the gestation, lactation, and weaning periods. We used a experimental mice model of zinc supplementation during the perinatal stages to study the effects of this ion over the production of interleukin IL-1α, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha by peritoneal macrophages. In addition, we determined the gene expression of these cytokines. Zinc (500 mg/L) was orally administered to mice from gestation to lactation (6-week treatment, Zn+) and weaning (9-week treatment). The serum cytokines IL-1α and IL-12 were assayed in the offspring at 21 and 42 days after birth. Our results showed a significant (P < 0.01) increase in cytokine production in the Zn+ animals at the end of the lactation stage. There was a tendency for the IL-1 concentration to decrease at postweaning; nevertheless, IL-12 concentrations were increased in mice at 42 days of age (P < 0.001). The production of IL-1α, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the macrophages supernatants in vitro followed the same tendencies (P < 0.001). Molecular analysis showed an increase of mRNA synthesis in all cases, from 4-fold to 6-fold, in the cytokines analyzed. Our results suggest that the increase in the proinflammatory cytokines as a result of zinc administration may potentiate Th1 cells response, which could lead to the increase of cytokine production in deficient newborns. J. Trace Elem. Exp. Med. 17:123–135, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.