Immunoregulatory properties of some heavy metals in physiology and pathology conditions. Part I.

The paper presents literature review dealing with the role of some trace metals in immunological processes of the body. The author took into consideration iron, zinc, magnesium, selenium, lithium and vanadium. They take part in the control of immunity processes nonspecifically potentializing the immunological response of modifying it in the presence of mitogens and antigens. The place where this interaction probably undergoes are the membrane receptors of lymphocytes and macrophages for mito- and antigens. The trace metals seem to control and reproduce their activity, taking part in the transport through the membranes of immunologically competent cells.