Article
Trace elements, Innate Immune Response and Parasites
Registro en:
Rivera, Maria Teresa et al. Trace elements, Innate Immune response and parasites. Clin. Chem. Lab. Med., v. 4, n. 8, p. 1020-1025, 2003.
1434-6621
1437-4331
Autor
Rivera, Maria Teresa
Souza, Andreia Pereira de
Araujo-Jorge, Tania C.
Castro, Solange Lisboa de
Vanderpas, Jean
Resumen
Micronutrient deficiencies and infectious disease often
coexist and show complex interactions leading to
mutually reinforced detrimental clinical effects. Such
a combination is predominantly observed in underprivileged
people of developing countries, particularly
in rural regions. Several micronutrients such as trace
elements (zinc, iron, selenium) modulate immune
function and influence the susceptibility of the host to
infection. Nevertheless, the effect of individual micronutrients
on components of innate immunity is difficult
to design and interpret. Micronutrient deficiency,
in general, has a widespread effect on nearly
all components of the innate immune response. Chagas’
disease is a pertinent model to study interaction
of nutrition, immunity and infection, as it implies
many components of innate immunity. An important
question is whether alterations on micronutrient intake
modify the course of infection. Some interactions
of trace elements with innate immunity and
acute inflammatory response are reviewed in this article
with a special focus on selenium deficiency and
Trypanosoma cruzi infection.