The effect of glutamine infusion on the inflammatory response and HSP70 during human experimental endotoxaemia.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Glutamine supplementation has beneficial effects on morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients, possibly in part through an attenuation of the proinflammatory cytokine response and a stimulation of heat shock protein (HSP)70. We infused either alanine-glutamine or saline during endotoxin challenge and measured plasma cytokines and HSP70 protein expression.

METHODS:

This crossover study, conducted in eight healthy young men, was double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled. It was performed on 2 trial days, separated by a 4-week washout period. The volunteers received an infusion of alanine-glutamine at a rate of 0.025 g/(kg body weight x hour) or saline for 10 hours. After 2 hours, an intravenous bolus of Escherichia coli endotoxin (0.3 ng/kg) was administered. Blood samples were collected hourly for the following 8 hours. HSP70 protein content in isolated blood mononuclear cells (BMNCs) was measured by Western blotting.

RESULTS:

Plasma glutamine increased during alanine-glutamine infusion. Endotoxin reduced plasma glutamine during both trials, but plasma glutamine levels remained above baseline with alanine-glutamine supplementation. Endotoxin injection was associated with alterations in white blood cell and differential counts, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, IL-6, temperature and heart rate, but glutamine affected neither the endotoxin-induced change in these variables nor the expression of HSP70 in BMNCs.

CONCLUSIONS:

Endotoxin reduced plasma glutamine independently of alanine-glutamine infusion, but supplementation allows plasma levels to be maintained above baseline. Glutamine alters neither endotoxin-induced systemic inflammation nor early expression of HSP70 in BMNCs.

TRIAL REGISTRATION:

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT 00780520.

• Authors: Anne Sofie Andreasen, Theis Pedersen-Skovsgaard, Ole Hartvig Mortensen, Gerrit van Hall, Pope Lloyd Moseley, Bente Klarlund Pedersen
• Journal: Critical care (London, England) (Crit Care) Vol. 13 Issue 1 Pg. R7 ( 2009) ISSN: 1466-609X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19173710 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Endotoxins
• HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins
• Inflammation Mediators
• Glutamine

Topics

• Adult
• Cross-Over Studies
• Double-Blind Method
• Endotoxemia (blood, chemically induced)
• Endotoxins (toxicity)
• Glutamine (administration & dosage, blood)
• HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins (biosynthesis, metabolism)
• Humans
• Inflammation (blood, chemically induced)
• Inflammation Mediators (blood)
• Infusions, Intravenous
• Male
• Young Adult