Zinc (Zn) deficiency may occur in a subset of CF children, which may potent
ially contribute to the impairment of their growth and immune functions. Ma
ny of the studies that investigated the status of Zn in CF relied exclusive
ly on plasma Zn level-which is not a reliable indicator of Zn status in the
body. In this study, we evaluated cellular and plasma Zn levels in both CF
and control subjects. In addition, IL-2 production and several T lymphocyt
e subsets were also measured in both groups. A total of 16 CF patients and
17 age-matched normal subjects were included in this study. Zinc levels wer
e assayed using flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry, cellular IL-
2 production was assayed by ELISA, and T cell subtypes were measured by flo
w cytometry. CF patients showed significantly lower granulocyte and lymphoc
yte Zn levels than normal subjects (P < 0.01). There was no statistical dif
ference between the CF patients and the control subjects in their platelets
and plasma Zn levels. There was also no difference between the two groups
in the proportions of their T lymphocyte subsets. IL-2 production was highe
r in the normal subjects than in the CF patients (P = 0.05). Based on cellu
lar Zn criteria, ten CF patients were classified as Zn-deficient. When comp
ared to all the Zn-sufficient subjects in the study, the Zn-deficient CF pa
tients had significantly lower IL-2 production (P = 0.03). In conclusion, o
ur results showed that a mild Zn deficiency, manifested by low cellular Zn
levels, can occur in a subset of CF patients, and this may lead to a reduct
ion in their lymphocyte IL-2 production. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.