Zinc deficiency as possible link between immunosenescence and age-related diseases

Immunity & Ageing

Table 6 Comparison of NK cell counts and functions in aged individuals and zinc deficient state

Cell type	Characteristics	Alteration		References
Cell type	Characteristics	Elderly	ZD	Elderly	ZD
NK cells
	Cell number	↑	↗	[195, 201, 213, 214] ↑ [215] ↗	[172] ↔ [216] ↑
	CD56^bright cells	↓	-	[195,196,197] ↓	-
	CD56^dim cells	↑	-	[196,197,198] ↑	-
	Cytotoxicity	↓	↓	[199,200,201] ↓	[13, 202, 208] ↓
	KIR expression/formation	↑	↓	KIR expression: [198, 201, 203] ↑	Formation of KIR multimers: [204,205,206,207] ↓

ZD: Zinc deficiency; ↓: decreased significantly; ↘: probably decreased; ↔ : no effect, or effect unclear; -: no data available, ↗: probably increased; ↑: increased significantly

ISSN: 1742-4933