DECREASED NATURAL-KILLER (NK) CELL-ACTIVITY IN ZINC-DEFICIENT RATS

1. In the study, the effect of zinc deficiency, a natural killer (NK), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activated NK cell activity were investig ated. 2. Rats were fed with zinc-deficient and normal diet for 3 weeks . 3. NK and LPS activated NK cell activity was 7.2 +/- 1.8%/10(6) cell s (n = 10) and 9.5 +/- 4.3%/10(6) cells (n = 10), respectively, in the zinc deficient group. In the control group fed with normal diet, NK a nd LPS activated NK cell activity was 22.2 +/- 3.3%/10(6) cells (n = 1 0) and 32.5 +/- 3.5%/10(6) cells (n = 10), respectively. 4. Plasma zin c concentration was 131.7 +/- 8.8 mu g/dl in the zinc-deficient group and 206 +/- 17.7 mu g/dl in the control group. 5. The results suggest that decreased NK and LPS activated NK cell activity is associated wit h zinc deficiency.