title: Spermine-induced maturation in wistar rat intestine: a cytokine-dependent mechanism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Polyamines are of great importance in biologic processes such as cell proliferation and differentiation. The ingestion of spermidine or spermine by suckling rats induces the precocious maturation of the small intestine. In a previous article, the authors hypothesized that this phenomenon could be mediated by interleukins. This work was performed to examine the role of IL-1, IL-2, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- alpha in the spermine-induced maturation of the small intestine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar suckling rats were treated with spermine, FR167653 (inhibitor of IL-1beta/TNF-alpha production), IL-1beta/TNF-alpha neutralizing antibodies, lipopolysaccharide, or IL-2. Intestinal disaccharidase-specific activities, polyamine content, and IL-2 plasma concentration were analyzed. Comparisons were made with untreated control animals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spermine-induced maturation of the small intestine was decreased by FR167653 but not by the neutralizing antibodies. Lipopolysaccharide injection induced an increase in disaccharidase-specific activity. IL-2 induced a decrease of the intestinal lactase-specific activity. Spermine administration led to a similar decrease of lactase activity and to an increase of IL-2 plasma concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors conclude that IL-1beta and TNF-alpha are involved in the spermine effects on maltase- and sucrase-specific activities and suggest that IL-2 is involved in the spermine-induced decrease of lactase activity.
authors.affiliation: University of Liege, Department of Biochemistry and General Physiology; Institute of Chemistry, Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Peulen
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dandrifosse
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008297:Male; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011725:Pyridines; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013096:Spermine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004187:Disaccharides; C104334:FR 167653; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011725:Pyridines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013096:Spermine