Protective effects of glutamine preconditioning on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

Food and Gut Microbiota-Derived Metabolites in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Diet and lifestyle are crucial factors that influence the susceptibility of humans to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Personalized diet patterns chronically affect the composition and activity of microbiota in the human gut; consequently, nutrition-related dysbiosis exacerbates NAFLD via the gut-liver axis. Recent advances in diagnostic technology for gut microbes and microbiota-derived metabolites have led to advances in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of NAFLD. Microbiota-derived metabolites, including tryptophan, short-chain fatty acid, fat, fructose, or bile acid, regulate the pathophysiology of NAFLD. The microbiota metabolize nutrients, and metabolites are closely related to the development of NAFLD. In this review, we discuss the influence of nutrients, gut microbes, their corresponding metabolites, and metabolism in the pathogenesis of NAFLD.

Enhanced Recovery after Abdominoplasty Using Perisurgical Nutritional Supplementation

Nutritional supplements are common in other surgical specialties but not widely used in the plastic surgery setting. This study compares the surgical outcomes of patients using our standard ERAS protocol involving arnica and bromelain with an updated ERAS protocol using perisurgical nutritional supplementation using a staged administration of nutraceuticals.

Methods

In total, 300 female abdominoplasty patients were randomly provided with perioperative supplementation consisting of arnica and bromelain, or a 3-stage nutraceutical regimen containing arginine, citrulline, glutamine, bromelain, and vitamin C. Narcotic use in recovery and post-operative drainage were measured, and both groups completed a self-assessment of bruising coloration, days to independent activity, perceived pain, and documented the quantity of narcotic and non-prescription pain killers they took over a 14-day recovery period.

Results

There were 130 patients in the nutraceutical group and 80 in the arnica and bromelain group; patients were excluded due to non-compliance or due to incomplete data. Patients taking the nutraceutical regimen reported a shorter duration of pain and had a 41% reduction in narcotic use in recovery and experienced 48% less post-operative drainage. Home use of narcotic pain killers decreased by 25%. There also was a trend toward decreased and earlier clearing/maturation of bruising as well as return to daily activates without assistance. Patients also reported an increase in satisfaction with their surgical experience.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that perioperative supplementation with nitric oxide precursors, antioxidants, and proteolytic enzymes in a staged fashion can positively affect post-operative outcomes and is an adjunct to enhanced surgical recovery protocols.

Essential Role of Nonessential Amino Acid Glutamine in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

Atherosclerosis is a major disease that seriously harms human health and is known as the "number one killer" in developed countries and the leading cause of death worldwide. Glutamine is the most abundant nonessential amino acid in the human blood that has multifaceted effects on the body. Recent studies showed that glutamine is negatively corrected with the progression of atherosclerotic lesions. In this review, we focused on the relationship of glutamine with macrophage polarization, nitrification stress, oxidative stress injury, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, and therapeutic angiogenesis to review its roles in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

The Effect of Glutamine Supplementation on Oxidative Stress and Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 and 9 After Exhaustive Exercise

Background

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in plasma and skeletal muscles and an important fuel for immune system cells. It has beneficial anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which may be considered as a potentially useful supplement for athletes. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of glutamine supplementation on oxidative stress and matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 after exhaustive exercise in young healthy males.

Materials and methods

In this study, 30 healthy males (supplement =15 and control=15) were randomly assigned into two groups. The supplement group received 0.3 g/kg BW of glutamine along with 25 gr of sugar dissolved in 250 cc water per day. The control group received 25 gr of sugar in 250 cc water per day. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and at the end of 14 days of intervention. The participants underwent exercise until experiencing full-body exhaustive fatigue for 16 ± 2.84 mins, and then fasting blood samples were taken. Serum levels of TAC, MDA, MMP2, MMP9, glutathione, and hs-CRP were measured.

Results

Serum levels of MDA and hs-CRP significantly decreased in the supplement group (p< 0.05). The serum level of TAC significantly increased in the supplement group (p< 0.05). Glutathione serum levels significantly increased after exhaustive exercise (p< 0.05). Serum levels of MMP2 and MMP9 remained unchanged.

Conclusion

Results of this study showed that, some biochemical factors are time-dependent and can increase or decrease over time, as well as, serum levels of hs-CRP and MDA decreased with glutamine supplementation along with the increase in the TAC serum levels, but this supplementation had no effect on serum levels of MMP2 and MMP9 in exhaustive exercise.

Perioperative glutamine supplementation restores disturbed renal arginine synthesis after open aortic surgery: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Postoperative renal failure is a common complication after open repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The amino acid arginine is formed in the kidneys from its precursor citrulline, and citrulline is formed from glutamine in the intestines. Arginine enhances the function of the immune and cardiovascular systems, which is important for recovery after surgery. We hypothesized that renal arginine production is diminished after ischemia-reperfusion injury caused by clamping of the aorta during open abdominal aortic surgery and that parenteral glutamine supplementation might compensate for this impaired arginine synthesis. This open-label clinical trial randomized patients who underwent clamping of the aorta during open abdominal aortic surgery to receive a perioperative supplement of intravenous alanyl-glutamine (0.5 g·kg(-1)·day(-1); group A, n = 5) or no supplement (group B, n = 5). One day after surgery, stable isotopes and tracer methods were used to analyze the metabolism and conversion of glutamine, citrulline, and arginine. Whole body plasma flux of glutamine, citrulline, and arginine was significantly higher in group A than in group B (glutamine: 391 ± 34 vs. 258 ± 19 μmol·kg(-1)·h(-1), citrulline: 5.7 ± 0.4 vs. 2.8 ± 0.4 μmol·kg(-1)·h(-1), and arginine: 50 ± 4 vs. 26 ± 2 μmol·kg(-1)·h(-1), P < 0.01), as was the synthesis of citrulline from glutamine (4.8 ± 0.7 vs. 1.6 ± 0.3 μmol·kg(-1)·h(-1)), citrulline from arginine (2.3 ± 0.3 vs. 0.96 ± 0.1 μmol·kg(-1)·h(-1)), and arginine from glutamine (7.7 ± 0.4 vs. 2.8 ± 0.2 μmol·kg(-1)·h(-1)), respectively (P < 0.001 for all). In conclusion, the production of citrulline and arginine is severely reduced after clamping during aortic surgery. This study shows that an intravenous supplement of glutamine increases the production of citrulline and arginine and compensates for the inhibitory effect of ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Trisulfate Disaccharide Decreases Calcium Overload and Protects Liver Injury Secondary to Liver Ischemia/Reperfusion

Background

Ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) causes tissue damage and intracellular calcium levels are a factor of cell death. Sodium calcium exchanger (NCX) regulates calcium extrusion and Trisulfated Disaccharide (TD) acts on NCX decreasing intracellular calcium through the inhibition of the exchange inhibitory peptide (XIP).

Objectives

The aims of this research are to evaluate TD effects in liver injury secondary to I/R in animals and in vitro action on cytosolic calcium of hepatocytes cultures under calcium overload.

Methods

Wistar rats submitted to partial liver ischemia were divided in groups: Control: (n = 10): surgical manipulation with no liver ischemia; Saline: (n = 15): rats receiving IV saline before reperfusion; and TD: (n = 15): rats receiving IV TD before reperfusion. Four hours after reperfusion, serum levels of AST, ALT, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 were measured. Liver tissue samples were collected for mitochondrial function and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Pulmonary vascular permeability and histologic parameters of liver were determined. TD effect on cytosolic calcium was evaluated in BRL3A hepatic rat cell cultures stimulated by thapsigargin pre and after treatment with TD.

Results

AST, ALT, cytokines, liver MDA, mitochondrial dysfunction and hepatic histologic injury scores were less in TD group when compared to Saline Group (p<0.05) with no differences in pulmonary vascular permeability. In culture cells, TD diminished the intracellular calcium raise and prevented the calcium increase pre and after treatment with thapsigargin, respectively.

Conclusion

TD decreases liver cell damage, preserves mitochondrial function and increases hepatic tolerance to I/R injury by calcium extrusion in Ca2+ overload situations.

Glutamine provides effective protection against deltamethrin-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats but not against nephrotoxicity

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of L-glutamine (GLN) against liver and kidney injury caused by acute toxicity of deltamethrin (DLM).

Material/Methods

Thirty-two rats were indiscriminately separated into 4 groups with 8 rats each: control group (distilled water; 10 ml/kg, perorally [p.o.]), DLM group (35 mg/kg p.o. one dose.), GLN group (1.5 gr/kg, p.o. single dose.) and DLM (35 mg/kg p.o. one dose.) + GLN group (1.5 gr/kg, p.o. one dose after 4 hours.). Testing for total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) analyses were performed on tissue samples, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), urea, and creatinine were analyzed on serum samples. Liver and kidney samples were histopathologically analyzed.

Results

The TOS level in liver was significantly higher in the DLM group than in the control group, and the level in DLM+GLN group was considerably lower than in the DLM group. The TAS level in the DLM+GLN group was considerably higher than in the control and DLM groups. The TAS level in kidney tissues was considerably lower in the DLM group than in controls, but was similar to other groups. Histopathological analyses of liver tissues established a significant difference between DLM and DLM+GLN groups in terms of grade 2 hepatic injury. However, no significant difference was found between DLM and DLM+GLN groups in terms of kidney injury.

Conclusions

Glutamine leads to significant improvement in deltamethrin-induced acute hepatotoxicity in terms of histopathologic results, tissue oxidative stress parameters, and serum liver function marker enzymes.

Preconditioning with glutamine protects against ischemia/reperfusion-induced hepatic injury in rats with obstructive jaundice

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain whether glutamine (Gln) pretreatment protects rats with obstructive jaundice from hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and to determine the underlying molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

An obstructive jaundice rat model was developed by bile duct ligation. On the first day after the operation, all rats were randomized into two groups and received oral Gln or normal saline (NS) daily for 7 days. Then both groups underwent a 15-min liver ischemia via the Pringle maneuver. Blood samples as well as liver and intestinal tissues were harvested and measured after 1, 6 and 24 h of reperfusion.

RESULTS

The results showed that the histological morphology of the liver and intestinal tissues significantly improved in the Gln group after I/R injury compared with the NS group. Serum proteins and enzymes associated with hepatic function also significantly improved in the Gln group. The level of glutathione increased and the levels of malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase decreased in the Gln group. The levels of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α decreased in the Gln group. Moreover, bcl-2 protein expression was upregulated and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and bax protein expression downregulated in the Gln group; the caspase 3 mRNA level significantly increased in the Gln group.

CONCLUSIONS

The study demonstrates that preconditioning with Gln significantly improves hepatic structure and function after I/R injury in rats with obstructive jaundice. The protective effect of Gln was mediated by the inhibition of reactive oxygen species and inflammation as well as a reduction in hepatocyte apoptosis.

Effects of glutamine on oxidative stress and nuclear factor-κB expression in the livers of rats with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of glutamine on the histomorphology of the liver, oxidative stress and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) expression in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD was induced in rats by a high-fat diet, and rats in the treatment group were subjected to oral administration of glutamine (1 g/kg/day). Rats from the treatment, model and normal control groups were assessed after 8 and 12 weeks (n=6 per group at each time-point). The levels of glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the liver, and the liver histopathology and NF-κB protein 65 (p65) expression in the liver were assessed. Compared with the control group under the same experimental period, the MDA and TNF-α levels in the liver, the hepatic steatosis and the hepatic expression of NF-κB p65 were significantly higher in the model and the treatment groups (P<0.05), while the GSH levels in the liver were significantly lower (P<0.05). These indices improved significantly in the treatment group compared with the model group (P<0.05). In conclusion, glutamine reduces the degree of oxidative stress in the liver, inhibits NF-κB p65 expression and improves hepatic steatosis. Glutamine has a certain protective effect in NAFLD.

Preconditioning with L-alanyl-L-glutamine in a Mongolian Gerbil model of acute cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of L-alanyl-L-glutamine (L-Ala-Gln) preconditioning in an acute cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) model in gerbils. METHODS: Thirty-six Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus), (60-100g), were randomized in 2 groups (n=18) and preconditioned with saline 2.0 ml (Group-S) or 0.75g/Kg of L-Ala-Gln, (Group-G) administered into the femoral vein 30 minutes prior to I/R. Each group was divided into three subgroups (n=6). Anesthetized animals (urethane, 1.5g/Kg, i.p.) were submitted to bilateral occlusion of common carotid arteries during 15 minutes. Samples (brain tissue and arterial blood) were collected at the end of ischemia (T0) and after 30 (T30) and 60 minutes (T60) for glucose, lactate, myeloperoxidase (MPO), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), glutathione (GSH) assays and histopathological evaluation. RESULTS: Glucose and lactate levels were not different in studied groups. However glycemia increased significantly in saline groups at the end of the reperfusion period. TBARS levels were significantly different, comparing treated (Group-G) and control group after 30 minutes of reperfusion (p<0.05) in cerebral tissue. Pretreatment with L-Ala-Gln promoted a significant increase in cerebral GSH contents in Group-G at T30 (p<0.001) time-point compared with Group-S. At T30 and T60, increased levels of GSH occurred in both time-points. There were no group differences regarding MPO levels. Pyknosis, presence of red neurons and intracellular edema were significantly smaller in Group-G. CONCLUSION: Preconditioning with L-Ala-Gln in gerbils submitted to cerebral ischemia/reperfusion reduces oxidative stress and degeneration of the nucleus (pyknosis) and cell death (red neurons) in the cerebral tissue.

Preconditioning with L-alanyl-glutamine reduces hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of pre-conditioning with L-alanyl- glutamine (L-Ala-Gln) in rats subjected to total hepatic ischemia. METHODS: Thirty Wistar rats, average weight 300g, were randomly assigned to 3 groups (n=10): G-1 - Saline, G-2- L-Ala-Gln, G-3-control (Sham). G-1 and G-3 groups were treated with saline 2.0 ml or L-Ala-Gln (0.75mg/Kg) intraperitoneally (ip) respectively, 2 hours before laparotomy. Anesthetized rats were subjected to laparotomy and total hepatic ischemia (30 minutes) induced by by clamping of portal triad. Control group underwent peritoneal puncture, two hours before the sham operation (laparotomy only). At the end of ischemia (G1 and G2), the liver was reperfused for 60 minutes. Following reperfusion blood samples were collected for evaluation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. Liver (medium lobe) was removed for immunohistochemistry study with antibody for Caspase-3. RESULTS: It was found a significant decrease (p<0.05) of ALT levels (270.6 +40.8 vs 83.3 +5.5 - p <0.05), LDH (2079.0 +262.4 vs. 206.6 +16.2 - p <0.05) and Caspase-3 expression (6.72 +1.35 vs. 2.19 +1.14, p <0.05) in rats subjected to I / R, comparing the group treated with L-Ala -Gln with G-2. Also, the ALT level was significantly lower (P<0.05) in G-1 and G-2 groups than in G-3 (control group). CONCLUSION: L-Ala-Gln preconditioning in rats submitted to hepatic I/R significantly reduces ALT, LDH and Caspase-3 expression, suggesting hepatic protection.