title: Does Citrulline Have Protective Effects on Liver Injury in Septic Rats?
abstract: Citrulline (Cit) supplementation was proposed to serve as a therapeutic intervention to restore arginine (Arg) concentrations and improve related functions in sepsis. This study explored whether citrulline had positive effects on liver injury and cytokine release in the early stages of sepsis. The cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model was utilized in our study. Rats were divided into four groups: normal, Cit, CLP, and CLP+Cit. The CLP group and CLP+Cit group were separated into 6-, 12-, and 24-hour groups, according to the time points of sacrifice after surgery. Intragastric administration of L-citrulline was applied to rats in Cit and CLP+Cit groups before surgery. Serum AST and ALT levels and levels of MDA, SOD, NO, and iNOS in the liver tissues were evaluated. Plasma concentrations of Cit and Arg were assessed using HPLC-MS/MS. Serum concentrations of cytokines and chemokines were calculated by Luminex. Results showed SOD activities of CLP+Cit groups were significantly higher than that of CLP groups, contrasting with the MDA and NO levels which were significantly lower in CLP+Cit groups than in CLP groups. In addition, plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β were significantly lower in the CLP+Cit 6-hour group than in the CLP 6-hour group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Long
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
authors.forename: Shi-Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Yuan
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, People's Hospital of Beihai City, Beihai, Guangxi 536000, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
authors.forename: Gopaul
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roodrajeetsing
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
authors.forename: Sen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002956:Citrulline / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D002956:Citrulline