Helps maintain integrity of skin and mucosal membrane (e.g., cofactor for metalloenzymesrequired for cell membrane repair)
↑ NK cell cytotoxic activity; central role in cellular growth and differentiation of immune cells that have a rapid differentiation and turnover; ↑ phagocytic capacity of monocytes
Involved in complement activity; role in IFN-γ production
Anti-inflammatory agent; helps to modulate cytokine release by dampening the development of pro-inflammatory Th17 and Th9 cells and influencing the generation of cytokines such as IL-2, IL-6, and TNF; has antioxidant effects that protect against ROS and reactive nitrogen species; influences activity of antioxidant proteins
↑ Proliferation of cytotoxic T cells; involved in Th1 cytokine production and thus supports Th1 response; essential for intracellular binding of tyrosine kinase to T cell receptors, required for T cell development, differentiation, and activation; ↑ development of Treg cells and is thus important in maintaining immune tolerance
Involved in antibody production, particularly IgG; involved in antibody response; important in maintaining immune tolerance (i.e., the ability to recognize “self” from “non-self”)