Zinc-induced suppression of inflammation in the respiratory tract, caused by infection with human rhinovirus and other irritants

• Published in: Medical hypotheses Vol. 49; no. 4; pp. 347 - 357
• Main Authors: Novick, S.G., Godfrey, J.C., Pollack, R.L., Wilder, H.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-10-1997; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical Trials as Topic; Common Cold - drug therapy; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Inflammation - drug therapy; Medical sciences; Rhinitis - drug therapy; Rhinovirus; Saliva - chemistry; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the respiratory system and ent viral diseases; Zinc - analysis; Zinc - therapeutic use; Zinc Compounds - therapeutic use; Human; Immunopathology; Allergy; Nose disease; Rhinitis; Respiratory disease; Picornaviridae; Ionic compound; Inflammation; Zinc; Homeopathy; Infection; Virus; Respiratory tract; Treatment; Viral disease; ENT disease; Rhinovirus
• ISSN: 0306-9877; 1532-2777
• DOI: 10.1016/S0306-9877(97)90201-2

Free ionic zinc (Zn
2+) in saliva shortens duration and severity of common cold (CC) symptoms. It is proposed that Zn
2+ complexes with proteins of critical nerve endings and surface proteins of human rhinovirus (HRV) (a) interrupt nerve impulses and (b) block docking of HRV on intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on somatic cells, thereby interrupting HRV infection. Since leukocyte function associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) binds leukocytes to cells through ICAM-1, initiating inflammation, Zn
2+ is expected to block LFA-1/ICAM-1 binding and thereby suppress inflammation. This could explain reduction of inflammation experienced by persons taking zinc gluconate/glycine (ZGG) lozenges for CC. Allergic rhinitis (AR) and CC share many common symptoms, and ZGG also mitigates AR symptoms. Focal irritation, increased ICAM-1 expression, and recruitment of leukocytes to epithelial foci are the common elements. Zinc ions may be an important anti-inflammatory factor because they can block docking of both HRV and LFA-1 with ICAM-1.