title: [Glutamate as a potential protective drug in the gastrointestinal mucosa].
abstract: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is known to provide the umami taste in the food. We have recently reported that glutamate has the potential to protect the small intestine against non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)-induced lesions in rats. In this paper, we examined this protective effect using sodium loxoprofen, one of the NSAIDs frequently used in Asian countries, to determine whether MSG accelerates the healing of loxoprofen-induced small intestinal lesions in rats. Loxoprofen at 60 mg/kg caused hemorrhagic lesions in the small intestine, mainly in the jejunum and ileum. These lesions spontaneously healed within 7 days, but this healing process was delayed by repeated administration of loxoprofen at low doses (10, 30 mg/kg) for 5 d after lesion induction. The healing-impairment action of loxoprofen was accompanied by the down-regulation of vascular endothelium-derived growth factor (VEGF) expression and an angiogenic response. The impaired healing caused by loxoprofen was significantly restored by co-treatment with a diet containing 5% MSG for 5 d, accompanied by the enhancement of VEGF expression and angiogenesis. We suggest that daily intake of MSG not only protects the small intestine against NSAIDs-induced damage but also exerts healing-promoting effects on these lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Pathological Sciences, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University.
authors.forename: Kikuko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Amagase
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
mesh_terms: D060433:Administration, Ophthalmic; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum; D007583:Jejunum; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000139:chemically induced; D010666:Phenylpropionates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D010666:Phenylpropionates; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C040656:loxoprofen; D020723:Glucuronic Acid