Role of zinc in interleukin 2 (IL-2)-mediated T-cell activation.

In a serum-free culture containing no zinc, zinc enhanced the proliferation of T cells in response to interleukin 2 (IL-2), and also the in vitro production of IL-2 by T cells. Although the lymphocyte proliferation was partially inhibited by anti-IL-2 antibodies, it was completely inhibited by anti-IL-2 receptor (CD25) antibodies. A Scatchard plot analysis showed that zinc induced the expression of high-affinity receptors for IL-2 on lymphocytes. The results indicated that zinc may be essentially required for IL-2-mediated T-cell activation.