Effect of Zirconium on Immunological Reactions of T Cells and Macrophages in Mice

The effects of zirconium (Zr) on T cells and macrophages in mice were studied in vitro using the indexs of immunological reactions, mitogenesis of C3H/HeJ mouse thymocytes induced by PHA and the production of interleukin-1 of C3H/He mouse intraperitoneal macrophages (MIL-1).The mitogenesis of thymocytes induced by PHA when stimulated with Zr solutions at various concentrations or culture supernatants of macrophages stimulated with LPS and Zr, or Zr alone, ware as shown below.1. The mitogenesis of thymocytes by PHA was enhanced in the presence of Zr at 0.625-2.5μM, and suppressed in the presence of Zr at 5-10μM in culture2. This reaction was enhanced by the addition of supernatants of macrophages stimulated with LPS and Zr. The most activation by LPS and Zr was shown at concentrations of 0.625-1.25μM in culture, and the degree activated corresponding to 12.5-25 I. U. of MIL-1.3. On the other hand, this reaction was inhibited by addition of supernatants of macrophages stimulated with Zr alone.From these results, it is suggested that Zr serves various functions such as an activator or inhibitor of T-cell mitogenesis by PHA, and that this may depend upon the Zr concentration in culture. In regard to the effect of Zr on MIL-1 production, Zr may activate this reaction by LPS, and Zr alone may induce MIL-1 production from macrophages.