Zinc deficiency drives Th17 polarization and promotes loss of Treg cell function

Zinc deficiency enhanced the number of Th17 and Treg cells after polarization with TGFβ-1 and IL-6 or IL-2, respectively. The number of Th1 and Th2 cells after polarization with IFN-γ or IL-4, respectively, is not influenced by zinc deficiency. However, Treg cells generated under zinc deficiency are nonfunctional due to reduced miR146a expression.82