A TRACE-ELEMENT PREPARATION CONTAINING ZINC INCREASES THE PRODUCTION OF INTERLEUKIN-6 IN HUMAN MONOCYTES AND GLIAL-CELLS

The in vitro effects of a trace element preparation (Beres Drops Plus, BDP) on the biosynthesis of inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 , IL-1, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were studied in hu man peripheral monocytes. The production of IL-6 was studied in a glio blastoma cell line, SKMG-4, as well. The trace element preparation BDP significantly stimulated both the constitutive and the endotoxin or I L-1 induced IL-6 production in monocytes or in glial cells, respective ly, but revealed no or only modest effect on IL-1 and TNF-alpha produc tion of monocytes. Moreover, BDP was able to reduce the inhibitory eff ect of a synthetic corticosteroid, dexamethasone on the biosynthesis o f IL-6. The positive effect of the trace element preparation on the IL -6 production of monocytes from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is comparable, to that of on the monocytes from healthy individuals, and similarly to healthy individuals was negligible on the IL-1 and TNF-al pha production. The detailed analysis of the composition of the prepar ation suggested, that the major active component in the stimulation of IL-6 production is Zn, but for the complete effect other trace elemen ts are also required.