Effects of Arginine, Citrulline and Glutamine in Intestinal Ischemia and Reperfusion‐Induced Immune Disorders

Abstract

Intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (IIR) commonly results in systemic inflammation, multiple organ failure and death. Previous study showed that arginine, citrulline and glutamine may improve IIR‐induced intestinal damage. Herein, we aimed to compare the effects of arginine, citrulline, and glutamine on immune alteration. Male Wistar rats were divided into a healthy group and 4 IIR groups that underwent intestinal ischemia for 60 min and fed with placebo, arginine, citrulline, or glutamine at 15 minutes before and 3, 9 and 21 hr after reperfusion. After 24 hr reperfusion, arginine, citrulline, or glutamine alleviated IIR‐increased monocytes and IIR‐decreased splenocytic TNF‐α productions (P<0.05, one‐way ANOVA). In leukocytes, arginine decreased T‐helper cells and reversed IIR‐decreased IL‐4 production; citrulline and glutamine decreased monocytic TNF‐α and IL‐6 productions; and glutamine further increased phagocytosis activity. In splenocytes, arginine and citrulline increased phagocytosis and IFN‐γ production and further decreased macrophages. Moreover, arginine reversed IIR‐decreased T cytotoxic cells and IL‐4 production; citrulline reversed IIR‐decreased cytotoxicity activity; and glutamine alleviated IIR‐increased TNF‐α and IL‐6 production in macrophages and further decreased IL‐4 production in splenocytes. In conclusion, arginine, citrulline, and glutamine may alleviate systemic inflammatory response in IIR injury. However, arginine, citrulline and glutamine have potential ability to elevate T cell activity, activate innate immunity and alleviate inflammatory response, respectively, in splenocytes of IIR rats. (NSC 98‐2320‐B‐030‐003‐MY3)