Studies of the thymus in mice bearing the Lewis lung carcinoma. II. Modulation of thymic natural killer activity by thymulin (FTS-Zn) and the antimetastatic effect of zinc.
Kaiserlian. D D; Savino. W W; Dardenne. M M
Key Findings
- Thymulin altered NK cell activity in tumor‑bearing mice
- Zinc prevented tumor‑induced thymus shrinkage and reduced lung metastases
- Combining thymulin with zinc removed zinc’s anti‑metastatic effect
Practical Outcomes
- The study is in mice and uses a cancer model, so it doesn’t give clear guidance for human use. It hints that zinc supplementation might support immune health, but there’s no evidence for dosing or safety in healthy people, and thymulin isn’t available as a supplement.
Summary
In mice with lung cancer, a thymus‑derived peptide called thymulin changed natural‑killer cell activity, while zinc helped keep the thymus from shrinking and cut the spread of cancer to the lungs. However, giving both together cancelled zinc’s benefit.
Abstract
Modulation of thymic natural killer (NK) cell activity by the serum thymic factor (thymulin or FTS-Zn) was demonstrated in mice carrying the Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL). Thymulin decreased the increased NK activity found in amputated (tumor) tumor-bearing mice and induced a significant NK activity in nonamputated mice, normally devoid of such activity. Zinc had no effect in either case. Histological studies revealed that zinc prevented the tumor-induced thymic atrophy. A clear-cut decrease in the number of lung metastases was observed in zinc-treated mice. This effect was suppressed by concomitant administration of thymulin to amputated mice. The thymic dependency of the anti-metastatic action of zinc as well as the mode of action of thymulin on NK cell activity in tumor-bearing animals is discussed.
Study Information
pubmed
1983
10.1016/0090-1229(83)90154-x