L-Arginine transport in disease.
The importance of membrane transport in normal physiological cell function is unquestionable. However, to what extent alterations in the transport of amino acids are the cause and/or consequence of pathological changes observed in disease states is a question not yet completely clarified. Kinetic experiments with blood cells provide a simple and useful model for researching alterations in amino acid transport. The cationic amino acid L-arginine is the precursor of nitric oxide (NO), a key second messenger involved in functions such as endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation, immune defence and platelet activation. The transport of L-arginine, being rate-limiting for nitric oxide production, is extremely relevant to pathological conditions where NO synthesis and/or actions are affected. The current review provides an overview of L-arginine transport in disease, specifically in uraemia, heart failure, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, septic shock and sickle cell disease.
Departamento de Farmacologia e Psicobiologia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 20551-030, Brazil. cribeiro@physiol.ox.ac.uk
Antônio Cláudio
AC
Mendes Ribeiro
Tatiana M C
TM
Brunini
D026923:Amino Acid Transport Systems, Basic / Q000378:metabolism; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000378:metabolism; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism*; D001692:Biological Transport; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000378:metabolism
D026923:Amino Acid Transport Systems, Basic; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine