1. IMPLICATIONS FOR AGE-RELATED CHRONIC INFLAMMATION THE EFFECT OF ZINC STATUS ON PROINFLAMMATORY RESPONSE Nicole Rinaldi a, Carmen Wong, PhD b, Emily Ho, PhD b,c a Department of BioResource Research b School of Biological and Population Health Sciences c Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA

2. BACKGROUND  Zinc is an essential micronutrient  Important role in immune system health  Zinc deficiency causes chronic low- grade inflammation  Chronic inflammation promotes development of degenerative disease  Heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune disease, cancer

3. BACKGROUND  Aging is strongly associated with chronic inflammation  Zinc status declines with age  12% of total US population is zinc deficient, however 40% of elderly Americans are zinc deficient  Due to both decreased absorption of zinc and consumption of zinc in the elderly

4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS  What level of zinc deficiency causes immune dysregulation?  Can zinc supplementation improve immune function?

5. HYPOTHESIS  Zinc deficiency will increase the intensity of the proinflammatory response compared to that elicited by zinc adequate conditions  Zinc supplementation will decrease the intensity of the proinflammatory response compared to that elicited by zinc adequate conditions

6. METHODS  THP-1 human leukemic monocyte cell culture model  Monocytes are a form of white blood cell involved in proinflammatory response  Cells are cultured in media that is either zinc deficient (0 μM zinc), marginally zinc deficient (1 μM zinc), zinc adequate (4 μM zinc), or zinc supplemented (40 μM zinc)

7. METHODS  Monocytes undergo measurable processes during induction of proinflammatory response  Increased ICAM1 expression, increased production of proinflammatory cytokines, increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) Day 25 ZA Day 25 ZD

8. Production of Proinflammatory Cytokines IL1 β & IL6 Production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Expression of Cell Activation Marker ICAM1 RESULTS ZA= zinc adequate MZD= marginal zinc deficient ZD= zinc deficient ZS= zinc supplemented

9. CONCLUSIONS  Effect of zinc supplementation on intensity of proinflammatory response is unclear at this time  Zinc deficiency and marginal zinc deficiency increase intensity of proinflammatory response  Increased production of cell activation markers, proinflammatory cytokines, and ROS  Zinc deficiency and marginal zinc deficiency may contribute to chronic inflammation experienced by the elderly

10. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS  LIFE Scholars Summer Research Program  Dr. Emily Ho – Mentor  Endowed Director, Professor, Principal Investigator  OSU College of Public Health and Human Sciences  Dr. Carmen Wong – Mentor  Research Associate, Nutrition & Exercise Sciences  OSU College of Public Health and Human Sciences  Wanda Crannell – Advisor  Advisor / Instructor  OSU College of Agricultural Sciences

11. RESULTS