title: Effect of glutamine on caspase-3 mRNA and protein expression in the myocardium of rats with sepsis.
abstract: : Apoptosis and caspase-3 play an important role in the pathogenesis of sepsis. In this study, the authors monitored myocardial apoptosis and investigated caspase-3 protein expression change in rats with sepsis. In addition, we investigated the protective effect of glutamine (Gln) on myocardial injury in septic rats. A rat model of sepsis was established by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Rats were divided into control group, endotoxin (LPS) group and LPS + Gln group, which were further divided into 4 subset groups (0, 6, 12 and 24 hour subgroups; n = 6). The rate of myocardial apoptosis, caspase-3 mRNA expression and caspase-3 protein expression were examined. Data were analyzed using the F-test or linear correlation test. The results revealed that the rate of myocardial apoptosis in the LPS group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, LPS group has an upregulated caspase-3 mRNA expression level. However, the caspase-3 protein was low expressed (P < 0.05). The LPS + Gln group has significant lower myocardial apoptosis rate compared with the LPS group (P < 0.05). In addition, caspase-3 mRNA expression levels and caspase-3 protein expression levels were lower in the LPS + Gln group (P < 0.05). We found that Gln reduces the extent of myocardial apoptotic cell death by decreasing the gene and protein expression of caspase-3. Therefore, Gln may be used to prevent the onset of sepsis at an early stage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care Unit (H-YY, RZ, X-LY, Y-FZ, W-JL), and Cardiology (J-RW), Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital, Medical College, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Jian-Rui
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-Ling
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: You-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Wei-Jian
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D005973:Glutamine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005973:Glutamine; D053148:Caspase 3