DOI: 10.2340/000155555572250252

To explore the mechanism by which zinc acts on cutaneous inflammatory lesions, we studied granulocyte zinc levels and in vitro polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis in 20 acne patients before and after 2 months of zinc therapy (200 mg/day zinc gluconate). The zinc level was assayed by flame absorption spectrophotometry and chemotaxis was performed by agarose assay. After 2 months of treatment, a significant decrease in granulocyte zinc level associated with inhibition of chemotaxis (r = 0.69) was observed in 16 patients. This suggests that zinc anti-inflammatory action is related to inhibition of polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis induced by a decreased granulocyte zinc level.