Zelenskiy, E. A., Trulioff, T. A. S., Kudryavtsev , I. V., Sokolov, A. V., Kisseleva , E. P., & Rutto, K. V. (2023). The influence of zinc sulfate on proliferation and apoptosis of thymocytes from tumor-bearing mice. Voprosy Onkologii, 69(3), 437–443. https://doi.org/10.37469/0507-3758-2023-69-3-437-443

Abstract

Aim. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of zinc supplementation on functional activity of thymocytes during the growth of transplantable tumor hepatoma 22a in mice.
Materials and methods. Inbred C3HA mice received zinc sulfate with drinking water during 3 weeks started from the first day after subcutaneous inoculation of syngeneic hepatoma 22a. On day 21 animals were killed, thymuses were extracted and evaluated for proliferation and apoptosis of thymocytes and zinc content in the thymus. Proliferation (cell cycle analysis) was performed by flow cytometry using cells DNA-binding stain DAPI. To examine apoptosis cells were exposed to DAPI and YO-PRO. Level of thymus zinc was evaluated using the method of atomic absorption spectrometry.
Results. At the 21 day of tumor growth apoptosis in thymocytes was increased by 2,5 times, while the percentage of cells in the S phase (DNA synthesis phase) decreased by 1,8 times. Apoptosis was mainly determined among double positive (DP, CD4+CD8+) cells – it was increased by 3,2 times compared to control. Zinc supplementation normalized thymocyte proliferation (proliferation index and number of cells in S phase) and decreased apoptosis. Additionally, zinc supplementation enlarged zinc content in the thymus.
Conclusion. Oral zinc supplementation causes inhibition of the development of thymic involution in mice bearing hepatoma 22a and essentially improves functional activity of thymocytes. Such animals show normal thymocyte proliferation and the number of apoptotic cells significantly lower compared to mice that did not receive zinc sulfate. The data obtained allow to consider oral zinc supplementation as perspective tool for the development of new strategies for thymus regeneration in cancer patients.

https://doi.org/10.37469/0507-3758-2023-69-3-437-443

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