Glutamine modulates sepsis-induced changes to intestinal intraepithelial γδT lymphocyte expression in mice

Shock. 2012 Aug;38(3):288-93. doi: 10.1097/SHK.0b013e3182655932.

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of glutamine (GLN) on intestinal intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) γδT-cell cytokines and immune regulatory factor gene expressions in a mouse model of polymicrobial sepsis. Mice were randomly assigned to a normal group, a sepsis with saline (SS) group, or a sepsis with GLN (SG) group. All mice were fed a chow diet. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The SS group was injected with saline, and the SG group was given 0.75 g GLN/kg body weight once via a tail vein 1 h after CLP. Septic mice were killed 12 h after CLP, and IEL γδT cells of the animals were isolated for further analysis. Results showed that compared with normal mice, sepsis resulted in lower IEL γδT-cell percentage and higher messenger RNA expressions of interferon γ, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-13, IL-17, retinoid acid receptor-related orphan receptor γt, and complement 5a receptor by IEL γδT cells. These immunomodulatory mediator genes exhibited decreases, whereas IL-7 receptor expression increased in IEL γδT cells in septic mice with GLN administration. Annexin V/7-amino-actinomycin D stain revealed significantly lower rates of apoptosis, and IEL γδT-cell percentage was higher in the SG group. The histological findings also showed that damage to intestinal epithelial cells was less severe in the SG group. These results indicated that a single dose of GLN administered as treatment after the initiation of sepsis prevented apoptosis of IEL γδT cells and downregulated γδT cell-expressed inflammatory mediators that may consequently ameliorate the severity of sepsis-induced intestinal epithelial injury.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cecal Diseases / immunology*
  • Cecal Diseases / pathology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Down-Regulation
  • Gene Expression
  • Glutamine / pharmacology*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Random Allocation
  • Sepsis / immunology*
  • Sepsis / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Transcription Factors
  • Glutamine