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Effect of Glutamine on Phagocytosis and Bacterial Killing by Normal and Pediatric Burn Patient Neutrophils
Author(s) -
Ogle Cora K.,
Ogle James D.,
Mao JuXian,
Simon Jodi,
Noel John G.,
Li BingGuo,
Alexander J. Wesley
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.935
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1941-2444
pISSN - 0148-6071
DOI - 10.1177/0148607194018002128
Subject(s) - glutamine , phagocytosis , parenteral nutrition , enteral administration , medicine , immune system , immunology , staphylococcus aureus , amino acid , microbiology and biotechnology , neutrophile , biology , biochemistry , inflammation , bacteria , genetics
Glutamine is essential for the function of lymphocytes and macrophages, where it serves, among other things, as a source of energy. Little information is available concerning the fuel that polymorphonuclear cells use for their metabolic and bactericidal functions. It was the purpose of this study to determine whether glutamine would enhance the in vitro bactericidal function of normal neutrophils and whether the amino acid would restore the observed impaired function in burn patients to or above the normal level. Twelve burn patients with total body surface area burns ranging from 32% to 87% were studied. At various postburn times, neutrophils were isolated and their ability to kill Staphylococcus aureus in the presence and absence of glutamine was determined and compared with that in normal subjects. Glutamine enhanced the bactericidal function of normal neutrophils. In every patient, at all but two postburn times, glutamine caused an improvement in the observed abnormal neutrophil bactericidal function and often restored it to or slightly above the normal level. Glutamine had no effect on the expression of C3b receptors (CR1 or CD35) or on phagocytosis by the cells. This study confirms the beneficial effects of glutamine in at least one arm of the immune system and adds evidence for the possible advantage of including this amino acid in the diets of burn and other trauma patients. ( Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 18 :128–133, 1994)