A diet containing whey protein, glutamine, and TGFbeta modulates gut protein metabolism during chemotherapy-induced mucositis in rats.
BACKGROUND
Mucositis, a common side effect of chemotherapy, is characterized by compromised digestive function, barrier integrity and immune competence.


OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to evaluate the impact of a specifically designed diet Clinutren Protect (CP), which contains whey proteins, TGFbeta-rich casein, and free glutamine, on mucositis in rats.


METHODS
Mucositis was induced by three consecutive injections (day 0, day 1, day 2) of methotrexate (2.5 mg/kg). Rats had free access to CP or placebo diets from days -7 to 9. In the placebo diet, whey proteins and TGFbeta-rich casein were replaced by TGFbeta-free casein and glutamine by alanine. Intestinal parameters were assessed at day 3 and 9. Values, expressed as mean +/- SEM, were compared using two-way ANOVA.


RESULTS
At day 3, villus height was markedly decreased in the placebo (296 +/- 11 microm) and CP groups (360 +/- 10 microm) compared with controls (464 +/- 27 microm), but more markedly in the placebo as compared to CP group. The intestinal damage score was also reduced in the CP compared with the placebo group. Glutathione content increased in the CP compared with the placebo group (2.2 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.7 +/- 0.2 micromol/g tissue). Gut protein metabolism was more affected in the placebo than in the CP group. The fractional synthesis rate was decreased in the placebo group (93.8 +/- 4.9%/day) compared with controls (121.5 +/- 12.1, P < 0.05), but not in the CP group (106.0 +/- 13.1). In addition, at day 9, rats exhibited improved body weight and food intake recovery in the CP compared to the placebo group.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinutren Protect feeding reduces intestinal injury in the acute phase of methotrexate-induced mucositis in rats and improves recovery.
Boukhettala
Nabile
N
ADEN EA4311 Institute for Biomedical Research and European Institute for Peptide Research (IFRMP23), Rouen University, Rouen, France.
Ibrahim
Ayman
A
Claeyssens
Sophie
S
Faure
Magali
M
Le Pessot
Florence
F
Vuichoud
Jacques
J
Lavoinne
Alain
A
Breuillé
Denis
D
Déchelotte
Pierre
P
Coëffier
Moïse
M
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005973:Glutamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052016:Mucositis / Q000178:diet therapy*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000067816:Whey Proteins
D008894:Milk Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000067816:Whey Proteins; D005973:Glutamine