In this study we showed that zinc was required for the gene expression of IL-2 for T helper cells.  We used HUT-78 cell culture model for these studies.  We observed that binding of NF-kB to DNA was affected adversely due to zinc deficiency.  This was essential for gene expression of IL-2 and IL-2Rα.  These studies were the first to document the role of zinc in IL-2 and IL-2Rα gene expression and show that zinc was a molecular signal for immune cells.

Ref.

Prasad, A.S., Bao, B., Beck, F.W.J., Sarkar, F.H.  Zinc enhances the expression of IL-2 and IL-2 receptors in HUT-78 cells via NF-kB activation.  J. Lab. Clin. Med. 140(4):272-289, 2002.