Figure 3

Influence of zinc on age-related changes of immune function. Aging leads to an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines and modulates the TH1–TH2 balance toward a TH2 response by reducing the TH-1 cytokines IFN-α and -γ and increasing IL-10. This reduces T cell help for immunoglobulin class switch and causes unspecific activation of B cells. Zinc counteracts the effects on [a] pro-inflammatory cytokines [27], [b] IFN-α [73], [c] IFN-γ [92], and [d] IL-10 [93].