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Biomedical subjects

Isabelle Papet

Publications and source records attributed to Isabelle Papet.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Methionine kinetics are altered in the elderly both in the basal state and after vaccination.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation is known to affect sulfur amino acid metabolism. Aging is associated with an increased prevalence of inflammatory conditions, but the metabolism of methionine has been poorly explored in the elderly. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to compare methionine kinetics between elderly and young subjects and to explore the effect of aging on the response to a mild inflammatory challenge induced by a vaccination. DESIGN: Seven elderly volunteers aged 66-76 y and 8 young volunteers aged 22-26 y were studied before and 2 d after a vaccination (diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, and typhoid vaccines). Methionine kinetics were measured by using an infusion of L-[1-13C, methyl-2H3]methionine in the postabsorptive and fed states. RESULTS: Before vaccination, the contribution of homocysteine remethylation to methionine-methyl flux (Qm) and the ratio of remethylation to homocysteine transsulfuration were significantly lower in the elderly subjects than in the young subjects (P < 0.05). In contrast, the contribution of transsulfuration to methionine transmethylation was higher in the elderly (P < 0.05). Vaccination significantly increased the ratio of transsulfuration to transmethylation and decreased the ratio of remethylation to Qm (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The preferential methionine metabolism toward cysteine synthesis observed after vaccination suggests an increased requirement of sulfur amino acids even in mild inflammatory situations. The main finding of this study is a higher proportion of methionine entering the transsulfuration pathway in elderly subjects before vaccination. This finding suggests an increased cysteine demand during aging.

Adult↗

The inflammatory response to vaccination is altered in the elderly.

To further explore whether immune function and acute phase response are altered during ageing, the response to a mild inflammatory stress (DT-Polio-Typhim vaccination) was studied in elderly and young subjects. Cytokine production (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10) by whole blood cultures, circulating cytokines and acute phase proteins were analysed before and 2 days after vaccination. Prior to vaccination, only IFN-gamma production was lower in the elderly than in the young subjects due to a lower mononuclear cell number. In the same time, although in the normal range, several acute phase proteins were greater in elderly than in young subjects, suggesting a low-grade inflammatory state in the elderly. After vaccination, IFN-gamma production remained lower in the elderly than in the young, supporting an altered cell-mediated immunity with advancing age. TNF-alpha production was unaffected by either ageing or vaccination. IL-6 production was stimulated by vaccination in young subjects but not significantly in the elderly. IL-10 production was inhibited by vaccination in the elderly but not in the young. Acute phase proteins were less increased in elderly than in young subjects. Taken together, these results support a general lack of inflammatory response in the elderly exposed to an immune challenge and suggest that immune deficiency may concern both Th1 and Th2 responses. However, the interpretation must respect the limitation of small subjects number.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

Increased tissue protein synthesis during spontaneous inflammatory bowel disease in HLA-B27 rats.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are associated with an increased whole-body protein turnover. In certain drug-induced experimental models of IBD, disturbances of protein synthesis in tissues have been reported recently, but it is unclear if similar disturbances occur in other chronic intestinal diseases. Therefore we investigated changes in protein synthesis in different tissues of HLA-B27 (human leucocyte antigen B27) transgenic rats that develop spontaneously chronic inflammation, with major involvement of the colon. Protein synthesis rate in HLA-B27 rats was shown to be higher in nine different tissues compared with control (Fisher 344) rats. The absolute rate of protein synthesis was highly stimulated at the main inflammatory site (+290% in the colon). However, liver, muscle and skin appeared to be major contributors to the increased protein synthesis observed at the whole-body level. Despite the increased protein synthesis, HLA-B27 rats presented a marked atrophy of muscles, which suggests an increased proteolysis. These results contrast with metabolic disturbances described in acute inflammation and colitis induced by drugs (i.e. dextran sodium sulphate). The present study suggests that the modifications of protein metabolism are strongly influenced by the type of the inflammatory diseases and thus by the underlying mechanisms, which result in different metabolic adaptations and specific nutritional requirements.

Acute Disease↗

Acute phase protein levels and thymus, spleen and plasma protein synthesis rates differ in adult and old rats.

Aging induces a dysregulation of immune and inflammation functions that may affect protein synthesis rates in lymphoid tissue and plasma proteins. We quantified in vivo synthesis rates of thymus, spleen and plasma proteins, including albumin and acute phase proteins, in adult (8 mo old) and old (22 mo old) rats using the flooding dose method [L-(1-(13)C) phenylalanine]. Immunosenescence was reflected by thymus atrophy and spleen hypertrophy in old rats but not in adult rats. A low albumin plasma level associated with high concentrations of fibrinogen, alpha(2)-macroglobulin, alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein and proteins other than albumin revealed a low grade inflammation in old rats. Protein fractional synthesis rates (FSR) and protein synthesis efficiencies of thymus were 29 and 26% lower in old than in adult rats, respectively; these variables did not differ in spleen. Protein absolute synthesis rates (ASR) of the thymus and spleen were 76% lower and 67% greater in old than adult rats, respectively. The FSR and ASR of albumin and other plasma proteins were greater in old than in adult rats. Protein synthesis measurement is a valuable nonimmunological tool to assess, in vivo, immune and inflammatory variables. Alterations in secondary lymphoid organs and plasma protein synthesis may contribute to the significant repartitioning of amino acids in old compared with adult rats and may be involved in sarcopenia.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

Leucine-supplemented meal feeding for ten days beneficially affects postprandial muscle protein synthesis in old rats.

Acute leucine supplementation of the diet has been shown to blunt defects in postprandial muscle protein metabolism in old rats. This study was undertaken to determine whether the effect of leucine persists in a 10-d experiment. For this purpose, adult (9 mo) and old (21 mo) rats were fed a semiliquid 18.2 g/100 g protein standard diet during the 8-h dark period for 1 mo. Then, each group was given either a leucine-supplemented meal or an alanine-supplemented meal (as the control meal) for 1 h and the standard diet the rest of the feeding period. On d 10, rats were fed either no food (postabsorptive group) or the supplemented meal for 1 h. Muscle protein synthesis was assessed in vivo 90-120 min after meal distribution using the flooding dose method (1-(13)C phenylalanine). Leucinemia was similar in rats of both ages in the postabsorptive state. Postprandial plasma leucine concentrations were one- to twofold greater after the leucine meal than after the control meal. In the postabsorptive state, leucine supplementation did not modify the muscle protein synthesis rate in old rats but enhanced it to the postprandial rate in adult rats. As expected, muscle protein synthesis was stimulated by the control meal in adult rats but not in old rats. The leucine meal restored this stimulation in old rats but did not further stimulate muscle protein synthesis in adult rats. In conclusion, the beneficial effect of leucine supplementation on postprandial muscle protein anabolism persists for at least 10 d. The long-term utilization of leucine-rich diets may therefore limit muscle protein wasting during aging.

Aging↗

Increased albumin plasma efflux contributes to hypoalbuminemia only during early phase of sepsis in rats.

The mechanisms leading to hypoalbuminemia in sepsis were explored by measuring plasma volume, albumin distribution, plasma albumin transcapillary escape rate (TER), and efflux (TER x albumin intravascular pool). These parameters were quantified in infected rats, injected intravenously with live Escherichia coli, and pair-fed and well-fed rats using an injection of (35)S-albumin and measuring plasma and whole body albumin concentrations. Animals were studied on days 1, 6, and 10 after infection. In pair-fed rats, neither albumin distribution nor exchange rate between the intra- and extravascular compartments was modified. The increase of plasma volume after infection partly explained hypoalbuminemia. Infection resulted in a reduction of the total albumin pool of the body all along the experimental period, indicating a net loss of the protein. Albumin TER (%/day) was significantly increased 1 and 6 days after infection, but the absolute efflux was increased only on day 1. Normal values were observed on day 10. Therefore, an accelerated plasma efflux contributes to hypoalbuminemia only during the early period of sepsis. During this phase, the protein was retained in the extravascular space where it was probably catabolized. Later on, other factors are probably involved.

Animals↗

Bacterial infection affects protein synthesis in primary lymphoid tissues and circulating lymphocytes of rats.

Bacterial infection alters whole-body protein homeostasis. Although immune cells are of prime importance for host defense, the effect of sepsis on their protein synthesis rates is poorly documented. We analyzed protein synthesis rates in rat primary lymphoid tissues and circulating lymphocytes after infection. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were studied 1, 2, 6 or 10 d after an intravenous injection of live Escherichia coli. Control healthy rats consumed food ad libitum (d 0) or were pair-fed to infected rats. Protein synthesis was quantified using a flooding dose of L-(4,4,4-(2)H(3))valine. Sepsis induced a delayed increase in total blood leukocytes and a rapid and persistent inversion of the counts. Basal fractional rates of protein synthesis (ks) were 117, 73 and 29%/d in bone marrow, thymus and circulating lymphocytes, respectively. Pair-feeding strongly depressed the absolute protein synthesis rates (ASR) of bone marrow (d 2 and 10) and thymus (d 2-10). The infection per se increased bone marrow, thymus and circulating lymphocyte ks but at various postinfection times. It decreased bone marrow (d 1) and thymus (d 1 and 2) ASR but increased lymphocyte (d 2 and 10) and bone marrow (d 10) ASR. Our results reflect the deleterious effect of anorexia on primary lymphoid tissues. The host defense against bacterial infection exhibited time- and tissue-dependent modifications of protein synthesis, indicating that blood lymphocyte protein data are not representative of the immune system as a whole. Optimization of nutritional supports would be facilitated by including protein synthesis measurements of the immune system.

Animals↗

Metabolic bases of amino acid requirements in acute diseases.

Acute diseases are characterized by a catabolic state, resulting in a negative nitrogen balance and muscle wasting. Increasing protein intake often proves to have little effect in limiting muscle protein loss. This suggests a qualitative inadequacy of the usual nutritional supports to meet the amino acid requirements of the critically ill patient. Therefore, it can be assumed that the additional intake of limiting amino acids would allow the sparing of muscle proteins. The aim of this review is to examine whether metabolic and kinetics studies using labelled amino acids can help identify the pathways activated in injury and their specific amino acid requirements. The kinetics of cysteine, arginine and glutamine, which are mainly cited as conditionally indispensable in stress situations, are presented. Moreover, amino acids can act as mediators or signal molecules and modulate numerous functions. The optimal conditions allowing the best expression of these activities are discussed.

Acute Disease↗