A Review of Essential Microelements in the Immune System

Ionut-Iulian Lungu; Ioana Babarus; Liliana Oniciuc; Alina Stefanache

doi:doi:10.11648/j.iji.20221001.11

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A Review of Essential Microelements in the Immune System

Ionut-Iulian Lungu, Ioana Babarus, Liliana Oniciuc, Alina Stefanache

Published in International Journal of Immunology (Volume 10, Issue 1)

Received: 6 November 2021 Accepted: 29 December 2021 Published: 14 April 2022

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Abstract

The immune system is the set of cells and organs that intervene in the body's defense against certain antigens, foreign to the body. This set includes both elements with rapid action and thus belonging to non-specific immunity, and also, elements that provide a slower response, but, with high specificity against each antigen. Nonspecific immunity sums up both cellular and humoral elements, which react quickly on foreign substances and microorganisms. On the other hand, adaptive immunity is based on the existence of lymphocytes, which develop a response, albeit slower, with a high specificity through antibodies secreted by B lymphocytes. Zinc deficiency is the second most widespread micronutrient deficiency. This compound is indispensable for the human body because it is a cofactor for many enzymes including alkaline phosphatase, dismutase superoxide, metalloproteinases. Moreover, zinc is included in the structure of growth and transcription factors and it participates in the cell communication within the immune system. Selenium is an essential trace element, being involved in many biological processes. It is part of a structural component of the amino acid selenocysteine, one of 25 selenoproteins, which are involved in the body's immune defense. Raising the awareness of iron deficiency, recent studies emphasize that it is the most common mineral deficiency worldwide. As it is already well known, iron is particularly important in the transport of oxygen, but its essential roles are not only limited to that. Besides, it is a constituent part of some metalloproteins and a cofactor for many other enzymes. Moreover, iron takes part of ATP synthesis. Therefore, the lack of iron has multiple repercussions on the whole organism, including the immune system.

Published in	International Journal of Immunology (Volume 10, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.iji.20221001.11
Page(s)	1-4
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Zinc, Selenium, Iron, Immunity

References

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APA Style

Ionut-Iulian Lungu, Ioana Babarus, Liliana Oniciuc, Alina Stefanache. (2022). A Review of Essential Microelements in the Immune System. International Journal of Immunology, 10(1), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.iji.20221001.11

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ACS Style

Ionut-Iulian Lungu; Ioana Babarus; Liliana Oniciuc; Alina Stefanache. A Review of Essential Microelements in the Immune System. Int. J. Immunol. 2022, 10(1), 1-4. doi: 10.11648/j.iji.20221001.11

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AMA Style

Ionut-Iulian Lungu, Ioana Babarus, Liliana Oniciuc, Alina Stefanache. A Review of Essential Microelements in the Immune System. Int J Immunol. 2022;10(1):1-4. doi: 10.11648/j.iji.20221001.11

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@article{10.11648/j.iji.20221001.11,
  author = {Ionut-Iulian Lungu and Ioana Babarus and Liliana Oniciuc and Alina Stefanache},
  title = {A Review of Essential Microelements in the Immune System},
  journal = {International Journal of Immunology},
  volume = {10},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-4},
  doi = {10.11648/j.iji.20221001.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.iji.20221001.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.iji.20221001.11},
  abstract = {The immune system is the set of cells and organs that intervene in the body's defense against certain antigens, foreign to the body. This set includes both elements with rapid action and thus belonging to non-specific immunity, and also, elements that provide a slower response, but, with high specificity against each antigen. Nonspecific immunity sums up both cellular and humoral elements, which react quickly on foreign substances and microorganisms. On the other hand, adaptive immunity is based on the existence of lymphocytes, which develop a response, albeit slower, with a high specificity through antibodies secreted by B lymphocytes. Zinc deficiency is the second most widespread micronutrient deficiency. This compound is indispensable for the human body because it is a cofactor for many enzymes including alkaline phosphatase, dismutase superoxide, metalloproteinases. Moreover, zinc is included in the structure of growth and transcription factors and it participates in the cell communication within the immune system. Selenium is an essential trace element, being involved in many biological processes. It is part of a structural component of the amino acid selenocysteine, one of 25 selenoproteins, which are involved in the body's immune defense. Raising the awareness of iron deficiency, recent studies emphasize that it is the most common mineral deficiency worldwide. As it is already well known, iron is particularly important in the transport of oxygen, but its essential roles are not only limited to that. Besides, it is a constituent part of some metalloproteins and a cofactor for many other enzymes. Moreover, iron takes part of ATP synthesis. Therefore, the lack of iron has multiple repercussions on the whole organism, including the immune system.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - A Review of Essential Microelements in the Immune System
AU - Ionut-Iulian Lungu
AU - Ioana Babarus
AU - Liliana Oniciuc
AU - Alina Stefanache
Y1 - 2022/04/14
PY - 2022
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.iji.20221001.11
DO - 10.11648/j.iji.20221001.11
T2 - International Journal of Immunology
JF - International Journal of Immunology
JO - International Journal of Immunology
SP - 1
EP - 4
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2329-1753
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.iji.20221001.11
AB - The immune system is the set of cells and organs that intervene in the body's defense against certain antigens, foreign to the body. This set includes both elements with rapid action and thus belonging to non-specific immunity, and also, elements that provide a slower response, but, with high specificity against each antigen. Nonspecific immunity sums up both cellular and humoral elements, which react quickly on foreign substances and microorganisms. On the other hand, adaptive immunity is based on the existence of lymphocytes, which develop a response, albeit slower, with a high specificity through antibodies secreted by B lymphocytes. Zinc deficiency is the second most widespread micronutrient deficiency. This compound is indispensable for the human body because it is a cofactor for many enzymes including alkaline phosphatase, dismutase superoxide, metalloproteinases. Moreover, zinc is included in the structure of growth and transcription factors and it participates in the cell communication within the immune system. Selenium is an essential trace element, being involved in many biological processes. It is part of a structural component of the amino acid selenocysteine, one of 25 selenoproteins, which are involved in the body's immune defense. Raising the awareness of iron deficiency, recent studies emphasize that it is the most common mineral deficiency worldwide. As it is already well known, iron is particularly important in the transport of oxygen, but its essential roles are not only limited to that. Besides, it is a constituent part of some metalloproteins and a cofactor for many other enzymes. Moreover, iron takes part of ATP synthesis. Therefore, the lack of iron has multiple repercussions on the whole organism, including the immune system.
VL - 10
IS - 1
ER -

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Author Information

Ionut-Iulian Lungu

Discipline of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", Iasi, Romania
Ioana Babarus

Discipline of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", Iasi, Romania
Liliana Oniciuc

Faculty of Chemistry, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Iasi, Romania
Alina Stefanache

Discipline of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", Iasi, Romania

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APA Style

Ionut-Iulian Lungu, Ioana Babarus, Liliana Oniciuc, Alina Stefanache. (2022). A Review of Essential Microelements in the Immune System. International Journal of Immunology, 10(1), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.iji.20221001.11

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ACS Style

Ionut-Iulian Lungu; Ioana Babarus; Liliana Oniciuc; Alina Stefanache. A Review of Essential Microelements in the Immune System. Int. J. Immunol. 2022, 10(1), 1-4. doi: 10.11648/j.iji.20221001.11

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AMA Style

Ionut-Iulian Lungu, Ioana Babarus, Liliana Oniciuc, Alina Stefanache. A Review of Essential Microelements in the Immune System. Int J Immunol. 2022;10(1):1-4. doi: 10.11648/j.iji.20221001.11

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@article{10.11648/j.iji.20221001.11,
  author = {Ionut-Iulian Lungu and Ioana Babarus and Liliana Oniciuc and Alina Stefanache},
  title = {A Review of Essential Microelements in the Immune System},
  journal = {International Journal of Immunology},
  volume = {10},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-4},
  doi = {10.11648/j.iji.20221001.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.iji.20221001.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.iji.20221001.11},
  abstract = {The immune system is the set of cells and organs that intervene in the body's defense against certain antigens, foreign to the body. This set includes both elements with rapid action and thus belonging to non-specific immunity, and also, elements that provide a slower response, but, with high specificity against each antigen. Nonspecific immunity sums up both cellular and humoral elements, which react quickly on foreign substances and microorganisms. On the other hand, adaptive immunity is based on the existence of lymphocytes, which develop a response, albeit slower, with a high specificity through antibodies secreted by B lymphocytes. Zinc deficiency is the second most widespread micronutrient deficiency. This compound is indispensable for the human body because it is a cofactor for many enzymes including alkaline phosphatase, dismutase superoxide, metalloproteinases. Moreover, zinc is included in the structure of growth and transcription factors and it participates in the cell communication within the immune system. Selenium is an essential trace element, being involved in many biological processes. It is part of a structural component of the amino acid selenocysteine, one of 25 selenoproteins, which are involved in the body's immune defense. Raising the awareness of iron deficiency, recent studies emphasize that it is the most common mineral deficiency worldwide. As it is already well known, iron is particularly important in the transport of oxygen, but its essential roles are not only limited to that. Besides, it is a constituent part of some metalloproteins and a cofactor for many other enzymes. Moreover, iron takes part of ATP synthesis. Therefore, the lack of iron has multiple repercussions on the whole organism, including the immune system.},
 year = {2022}
}

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