title: l-Glutamine administration reduces oxidized glutathione and MAP kinase signaling in dystrophic muscle of mdx mice.
abstract: To determine whether glutamine (Gln) reduces the ratio of oxidized to total glutathione (GSSG/GSH) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) activation in dystrophic muscle. Four-week old mdx mice, an animal model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and control (C57BL/10) received daily intraperitoneal injections of l-Gln (500 mg/kg/d) or 0.9% NaCl for 3 d. GSH and GSSG concentrations in gastrocnemius were measured using a standard enzymatic recycling procedure. Free amino acid concentrations in gastrocnemius were determined by ion exchange chromatography. Phosphorylated protein levels of ERK1/2 in quadriceps were examined using Western Blot. l-Gln decreased GSSG and GSSG/GSH (an indicator of oxidative stress). This was associated with decreased ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Muscle free Gln, glutamate (Glu), and the sum (Gln + Glu) were higher in mdx versus C57BL/10, at the basal level. Exogenous Gln decreased muscle free Glu and Gln + Glu in mdx only, whereas Gln was not affected. In conclusion, exogenous Gln reduces GSSG/GSH and ERK1/2 activation in dystrophic skeletal muscle of young mdx mice, which is associated with decreased muscle free Glu and Gln + Glu. This antioxidant protective mechanism provides a molecular basis for Gln's antiproteolytic effect in Duchenne muscular dystrophy children.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physiologie et Biologie Cellulaires, EA 3813, Université de Poitiers, Poitiers 86000, France.
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mok
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Constantin
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Favreau
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Neveux
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Magaud
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delwail
authors.forename: Régis
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hankard
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005973:Glutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D019803:Glutathione Disulfide / Q000378:metabolism*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018101:Mice, Inbred mdx; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D005973:Glutamine; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D005978:Glutathione; D019803:Glutathione Disulfide