title: The effect of glutamine infusion on the inflammatory response and HSP70 during human experimental endotoxaemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT 00780520.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, The Centre of Inflammation and Metabolism, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark. sofie_andreasen@msn.com
authors.forename: Anne Sofie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Andreasen
authors.forename: Theis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pedersen-Skovsgaard
authors.forename: Ole Hartvig
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Mortensen
authors.forename: Gerrit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van Hall
authors.forename: Pope Lloyd
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Moseley
authors.forename: Bente Klarlund
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000633:toxicity; D005973:Glutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D005973:Glutamine