Zinc aspartate in vivo and in vitro modulation of reactive oxygen species production by human neutrophils and monocytes.

: The involvement of zinc ions in cell metabolic processes and the immunopathologic consequences of zinc deficiency are well known. We investigated the effect of zinc aspartate upon production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by monocytes and polymorphonuclear cells isolated from healthy subjects and patients with leukemia and rheumatoid arthritis. The cells were stimulated in vitro with serum-treated zymosan, aggregated IgG, aggregated and opsonized IgG and digitonin. Zinc concentrations of 10(-4)M do not influence the in vitro release of ROS by polymorphonuclears but moderately activate the monocytes. Following treatment with orally administered zinc aspartate, monocytes from leukemia patients reveal an increased capacity to release ROS after in vitro stimulation. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis monocytes usually produce abnormally high ROS amounts after in vitro stimulation; the treatment with zinc aspartate does not induce considerable alterations of this capacity; however a tendency to restore the normal values is manifest.