Trace Elements, Innate Immune Response and Parasites

Micronutrient deficiencies and infectious disease often coexist and show complex interactions leading to mutually reinforced detrimental clinical effects. Such a combination is predominantly observed in underprivileged people of developing countries, particularly in rural regions. Several micronutrients such as trace elements (zinc, iron, selenium) modulate immune function and influence the susceptibility of the host to infection. Nevertheless, the effect of individual micronutrients on components of innate immunity is difficult to design and interpret. Micronutrient deficiency, in general, has a widespread effect on nearly all components of the innate immune response. Chagas' disease is a pertinent model to study interaction of nutrition, immunity and infection, as it implies many components of innate immunity. An important question is whether alterations on micronutrient intake modify the course of infection. Some interactions of trace elements with innate immunity and acute inflammatory response are reviewed in this article with a special focus on selenium deficiency and Trypanosoma cruzi infection.