title: Intravenous glutamine decreases lung and distal organ injury in an experimental model of abdominal sepsis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The protective effect of glutamine, as a pharmacological agent against lung injury, has been reported in experimental sepsis; however, its efficacy at improving oxygenation and lung mechanics, attenuating diaphragm and distal organ injury has to be better elucidated. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that a single early intravenous dose of glutamine was associated not only with the improvement of lung morpho-function, but also the reduction of the inflammatory process and epithelial cell apoptosis in kidney, liver, and intestine villi.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-two Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture surgery (CLP), while a sham operated group was used as control (C). One hour after surgery, C and CLP groups were further randomized into subgroups receiving intravenous saline (1 ml, SAL) or glutamine (0.75 g/kg, Gln). At 48 hours, animals were anesthetized, and the following parameters were measured: arterial oxygenation, pulmonary mechanics, and diaphragm, lung, kidney, liver, and small intestine villi histology. At 18 and 48 hours, Cytokine-Induced Neutrophil Chemoattractant (CINC)-1, interleukin (IL)-6 and 10 were quantified in bronchoalveolar and peritoneal lavage fluids (BALF and PLF, respectively).
  
  
  RESULTS
  CLP induced: a) deterioration of lung mechanics and gas exchange; b) ultrastructural changes of lung parenchyma and diaphragm; and c) lung and distal organ epithelial cell apoptosis. Glutamine improved survival rate, oxygenation and lung mechanics, minimized pulmonary and diaphragmatic changes, attenuating lung and distal organ epithelial cell apoptosis. Glutamine increased IL-10 in peritoneal lavage fluid at 18 hours and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid at 48 hours, but decreased CINC-1 and IL-6 in BALF and PLF only at 18 hours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In an experimental model of abdominal sepsis, a single intravenous dose of glutamine administered after sepsis induction may modulate the inflammatory process reducing not only the risk of lung injury, but also distal organ impairment. These results suggest that intravenous glutamine may be a potentially beneficial therapy for abdominal sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pulmonary Investigation, Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21949-902, Brazil. giselepoliv@gmail.com
authors.forename: Gisele P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Mariana B G
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Raquel S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Letícia D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Cristina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Alexandre M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ab' Saber
authors.forename: Walcy R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Teodoro
authors.forename: Vera L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Capelozzi
authors.forename: Rachel N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Patricia T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Bozza
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pelosi
authors.forename: Patricia R M
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Rocco
mesh_terms: D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005973:Glutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000628:therapy*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018805:Sepsis / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D005973:Glutamine