title: Effect of bombesin on impairment of upper respiratory tract immunity induced by total parenteral nutrition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of the neuropeptide bombesin on total parenteral nutrition-induced impairment of upper respiratory tract immunity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six adult male Institute for Cancer Research mice weighing 25 to 35 g.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were inoculated intranasally with H1N1 virus. At 3 weeks, mice were randomized to receive chow plus intravenous saline (n = 12), intravenous total parenteral nutrition (n = 12), or intravenous total parenteral nutrition plus bombesin (n = 12) administered 3 times daily at 15 micrograms/kg. After 5 days, mice were rechallenged with intranasal virus and killed at 40 hours to determine viral shedding from the respiratory tract; normal convalescent mice do not shed virus because of intact IgA-mediated mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Viral shedding was determined by collection of nasal secretions. Samples were diluted and incubated with a suspension of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Viral growth was determined by hemagglutination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body weight was similar between the total parenteral nutrition and bombesin groups; however, both were significantly lower than that in the chow group (P < .05). After 6 days of feeding, no mice in the chow group shed virus, compared with 6 (50%) of the mice in the total parenteral nutrition group. Of the mice in the bombesin group, only 1 was positive for viral shedding. The total parenteral nutrition group showed increased viral shedding compared with both the chow group (P < .01) and the bombesin group (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exogenous administration of bombesin reversed the total parenteral nutrition-associated impairment of upper respiratory tract immunity to an IgA-mediated infectious challenge. These observations support the concept of a common mucosal immune system, since neuropeptides are endogenous to the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts. Hormonal modulation of immunity is a promising avenue of treatment for patients who require total parenteral nutrition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee at Memphis, USA.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Janu
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kudsk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Renegar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001839:Bombesin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total; D017201:Virus Shedding
chemical_list: D001839:Bombesin