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Delayed Type Hypersensitivity in Zinc Deficient Adult Mice: Impairment and Restoration of Responsivity to Dinitrofluorobenzene¹

Department of Biochemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824

Seven-week-old A/J mice were divided into three uniform groups and fed: 1) a zinc deficient diet (0.6 µg Zn/g) ad libitum (deficient); 2) a zinc adequate diet (55 µg Zn/g) ad libitum (control); and 3) a zinc adequate diet (55 µg Zn/g) with intake restricted to the average daily amount consumed by the zinc deficient group (restricted). After 26 days on the diets, part of the mice from each dietary group were percutaneously sensitized with dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) to assess their ability to achieve a delayed type hypersensitivity reaction (DTH). The DTH response of restricted mice to DNFB [Stimulation Index (S.I.) of 1.98] was only moderately reduced compared to controls (S.I. of 2.53). Zinc deficient mice, on the other hand, gave a very poor response to DNFB (S.I. of 1.23). Thus, DTH is yet another branch of the immune system affected by a suboptimal intake of dietary zinc. To assess the ability of deficient mice to regenerate DTH responsivity the remaining deficient mice were refed diets containing adequate zinc (55 µg Zn/g). After 21 days of nutritional repletion, previously zinc deficient mice gave DTH responses nearly identical to that of control mice.

KEY WORDS: • zinc deficiency • delayed type hypersensitivity • restoration of immunity • mouse

¹ Supported in part by NIH grant HD10586 and the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station as journal article 10011.

² To whom reprint requests should be sent.

Manuscript received 29 June 1981.