Premium
Glutamine Signaling in Intestinal Cells
Author(s) -
Rhoads Marc
Publication year - 1999
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 - 10.1177/014860719902300510
Subject(s) - glutamine , medicine , endocrinology , stimulation , glucagon like peptide 2 , enterocyte , ileum , epidermal growth factor , diarrhea , biology , small intestine , biochemistry , receptor , amino acid , peptide
Glutamine (Gln) is a “competence factor” necessary for intestinal cell proliferation, intestinal fluid/ electrolyte absorption, and mitogenic response to growth factors. Gln deprivation produces apoptosis. Gln stimulation of quiescent cells produces immediate‐early gene expression and MAP kinase activation. However, EGF signals more powerfully through MAPKs than Gln. Interestingly, EGF‐stimulated mitogenesis is ineffective in the absence of Gln. In the intact intestinal epithelia in vivo, Gln has powerful effects on absorption of sodium and chloride. Gln‐stimulated absorption is greater than and additive to glucose‐stimulated absorption in cryptosporidial enteritis. In the piglet ileum, Gln metabolism stimulates apical amiloride‐inhibitable Na+/H+ exchange. Although one might predict powerful effects of oral Gln on absorption in babies with diarrhea, 3 clinical trials to date (one published) have not shown an advantage of GIn‐supplemented oral rehydration solutions (ORS) compared to standard glucose ORS. Severely dehydrated subjects have not been studied. More important effects of Gln treatment may be seen with (1) co‐administration with a growth factor and (2) in patients with severe intestinal damage, such as protracted diarrhea of infancy or AIDS enteropathy. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 23:S38‐S40, 1999)