QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Newsholme, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Newsholme, P.

---

Supplement

Why Is L-Glutamine Metabolism Important to Cells of the Immune System in Health, Postinjury, Surgery or Infection?^{1 ,2}

Department of Biochemistry, Conway Institute for Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

Glutamine is normally considered to be a nonessential amino acid. However, recent studies have provided evidence that glutamine may become "conditionally essential" during inflammatory conditions such as infection and injury. It is now well documented that under appropriate conditions, glutamine is essential for cell proliferation, that it can act as a respiratory fuel and that it can enhance the function of stimulated immune cells. Studies thus far have determined the effect of extracellular glutamine concentration on lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production, macrophage phagocytic plus secretory activities and neutrophil bacterial killing. Other cells of the immune system remain to be studied. The high rate of glutamine utilization and its importance to the function of lymphocytes, macrophages and neutrophils have raised the question "why glutamine?" because these cells have access to a variety of metabolic fuels both in vivo and in vitro. I have attempted to answer this question in this article. Additionally, knowledge of the rate of utilization and the pathway of metabolism of glutamine by cells of the immune system raises some intriguing questions concerning therapeutic manipulation of utilization of this amino acid such that the proliferative, phagocytic and secretory capacities of cells of the defense system may be beneficially altered. Evidence to support the hypothesis that glutamine is beneficially immunomodulatory in animal models of infection and trauma, as well as trauma in humans, is provided.

KEY WORDS: • glutamine • metabolism • immune system • infection • trauma

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. M. Rogero, J. Tirapegui, M. A. R. Vinolo, M. C. Borges, I. A. de Castro, I. S. d. O. Pires, and P. Borelli Dietary Glutamine Supplementation Increases the Activity of Peritoneal Macrophages and Hemopoiesis in Early-Weaned Mice Inoculated with Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin J. Nutr., July 1, 2008; 138(7): 1343 - 1348. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. C. Ligthart-Melis, M. C. G. van de Poll, C. H. C. Dejong, P. G. Boelens, N. E. P. Deutz, and P. A. M. van Leeuwen The Route of Administration (Enteral or Parenteral) Affects the Conversion of Isotopically Labeled L-[2-15N]Glutamine Into Citrulline and Arginine in Humans JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, September 1, 2007; 31(5): 343 - 350. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Doepel, G. E. Lobley, J. F. Bernier, P. Dubreuil, and H. Lapierre Effect of Glutamine Supplementation on Splanchnic Metabolism in Lactating Dairy Cows J Dairy Sci, September 1, 2007; 90(9): 4325 - 4333. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Vicario, C. Amat, M. Rivero, M. Moreto, and C. Pelegri Dietary Glutamine Affects Mucosal Functions in Rats with Mild DSS-Induced Colitis J. Nutr., August 1, 2007; 137(8): 1931 - 1937. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. E. Murakami, M. I. Sakamoto, M. R. M. Natali, L. M. G. Souza, and J. R. G. Franco Supplementation of Glutamine and Vitamin E on the Morphometry of the Intestinal Mucosa in Broiler Chickens Poult. Sci., March 1, 2007; 86(3): 488 - 495. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. D. Golding, S. T. R. MacDonald, B. H. J. Juurlink, and B. W. C. Rosser The effect of glutamine on locomotor performance and skeletal muscle myosins following spinal cord injury in rats J Appl Physiol, October 1, 2006; 101(4): 1045 - 1052. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Doepel, M. Lessard, N. Gagnon, G. E. Lobley, J. F. Bernier, P. Dubreuil, and H. Lapierre Effect of postruminal glutamine supplementation on immune response and milk production in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci, August 1, 2006; 89(8): 3107 - 3121. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Desvergne, L. Michalik, and W. Wahli Transcriptional Regulation of Metabolism Physiol Rev, April 1, 2006; 86(2): 465 - 514. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. M. Kadrofske, P. S. Parimi, L. L. Gruca, and S. C. Kalhan Effect of intravenous amino acids on glutamine and protein kinetics in low-birth-weight preterm infants during the immediate neonatal period Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, April 1, 2006; 290(4): E622 - E630. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. C. Calder Branched-Chain Amino Acids and Immunity J. Nutr., January 1, 2006; 136(1): 288S - 293S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. J. Stuckey, D. C. Anthony, J. P. Lowe, J. Miller, W. M. Palm, P. Styles, V. H. Perry, A. M. Blamire, and N. R. Sibson Detection of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA in macrophages by magnetic resonance spectroscopy J. Leukoc. Biol., August 1, 2005; 78(2): 393 - 400. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. C. Pithon-Curi, R. I. Schumacher, J. J. S. Freitas, C. Lagranha, P. Newsholme, A. C. Palanch, S. Q. Doi, and R. Curi Glutamine delays spontaneous apoptosis in neutrophils Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, June 1, 2003; 284(6): C1355 - C1361. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]