Biomedical subjects

T C Pithon-Curi

Publications and source records attributed to T C Pithon-Curi.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Diabetes causes marked changes in function and metabolism of rat neutrophils.

Several studies have shown impairment of neutrophil function, a disorder that contributes to the high incidence of infections in diabetes. Since glucose and glutamine play a key role in neutrophil function, we investigated their metabolism in neutrophils obtained from the peritoneal cavity of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The activities of hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), phosphofructokinase (PFK), citrate synthase, phosphate-dependent glutaminase, NAD+-linked and NADP+-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase were assayed. Glucose, glutamine, lactate, glutamate and aspartate, and the decarboxylation of [U-14C], [1-14C] and [6-14C]glucose; [U-14C]palmitic acid; and [U-14C]glutamine were measured in 1-h incubated neutrophils. Phagocytosis capacity and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production were also determined. All measurements were carried out in neutrophils from control, diabetic and insulin-treated (2-4 IU/day) diabetic rats. Phagocytosis and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated H2O2 production were decreased in neutrophils from diabetic rats. The activities of G6PDH and glutaminase were decreased, whereas that of PFK was raised by the diabetic state. The activities of the remaining enzymes were not changed. Diabetes decreased the decarboxylation of [1-14C]glucose and [U-14C]glutamine; however, [6-14C]glucose and [U-14C]palmitic acid decarboxylation was increased. These observations indicate that changes in metabolism may play an important role in the impaired neutrophil function observed in diabetes. The treatment with insulin abolished the changes induced by the diabetic state even with no marked change in glycemia. Therefore, insulin may have a direct effect on neutrophil metabolism and function.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Molecular mechanisms of glutamine action.

Glutamine is the most abundant free amino acid in the body and is known to play a regulatory role in several cell specific processes including metabolism (e.g., oxidative fuel, gluconeogenic precursor, and lipogenic precursor), cell integrity (apoptosis, cell proliferation), protein synthesis, and degradation, contractile protein mass, redox potential, respiratory burst, insulin resistance, insulin secretion, and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis. Glutamine has been shown to regulate the expression of many genes related to metabolism, signal transduction, cell defense and repair, and to activate intracellular signaling pathways. Thus, the function of glutamine goes beyond that of a simple metabolic fuel or protein precursor as previously assumed. In this review, we have attempted to identify some of the common mechanisms underlying the regulation of glutamine dependent cellular functions.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Effect of Cysticercus cellulosae on neutrophil function and death.

Neutrophils, eosinophils and macrophages interact with invading parasites and naive hosts. The initial reaction of leukocytes is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The cytotoxic effects of extracts derived from intact Cysticercus cellulosae and from the scolex or membrane fractions on neutrophils were examined. DNA fragmentation of neutrophils was observed when cells were incubated with an extract from the intact metacestode; however, the addition of antioxidant enzymes to the incubation medium had a protective effect. The scolex and membrane extracts did not affect DNA fragmentation of neutrophils. Hydrogen peroxide production of neutrophils incubated with metacestode fractions from C. cellulosae increased by 190% (total extract), 120% (scolex) or 44% (membrane). An increase in antioxidant catalase activity (28%) concomitant with the increased production of ROS was observed in neutrophils incubated with metacestode fractions, which could be an attempt at self-protection. ROS production by neutrophils in the presence of the intact cysticerci extract did not alter phagocytosis. In contrast, the scolex and membrane fractions increased the phagocytic capacity of neutrophils by 44 and 28%, respectively. The results showed that the extract from intact C. cellulosae was toxic for neutrophils via ROS production, leading to DNA fragmentation and inhibition of phagocytic capacity, but neutrophils are able to protect themselves against oxidative stress by via catalase activity.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Glutamine and glutamate as vital metabolites.

Glucose is widely accepted as the primary nutrient for the maintenance and promotion of cell function. This metabolite leads to production of ATP, NADPH and precursors for the synthesis of macromolecules such as nucleic acids and phospholipids. We propose that, in addition to glucose, the 5-carbon amino acids glutamine and glutamate should be considered to be equally important for maintenance and promotion of cell function. The functions of glutamine/glutamate are many, i.e., they are substrates for protein synthesis, anabolic precursors for muscle growth, they regulate acid-base balance in the kidney, they are substrates for ureagenesis in the liver and for hepatic and renal gluconeogenesis, they act as an oxidative fuel for the intestine and cells of the immune system, provide inter-organ nitrogen transport, and act as precursors of neurotransmitter synthesis, of nucleotide and nucleic acid synthesis and of glutathione production. Many of these functions are interrelated with glucose metabolism. The specialized aspects of glutamine/glutamate metabolism of different glutamine-utilizing cells are discussed in the context of glucose requirements and cell function.

Cell Physiological Phenomena↗

PubMed2001

Comparative effects of fish oil given by gavage and fish oil-enriched diet on leukocytes.

The comparative effects of fish oil given by gavage and fish oil enriched diet on metabolism and function of lymphocytes and macrophages were investigated. For this purpose, the following parameters were examined: 1) phagocytosis capacity, production of superoxide (O2*-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by macrophages, 2) lymphocytes proliferation capacity, 3) antioxidant enzyme activities in the mesenteric lymph nodes (MEN) and liver, 4) Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS) content in MLN, liver, and plasma, 5) total antioxidant capacity of the plasma, and 6) fatty acid composition of macrophages, MLN, liver and plasma. Both FO treatments did not affect phagocytosis capacity but increased hydrogen peroxide production by macrophages in the presence of PMA. FO given by gavage markedly increased lymphocytes proliferation both in the absence (5.8-fold) and in the presence (16.7-fold) of Con A, whereas FO-rich diet showed an increase in the presence of Con A only (53.3%). FO given by gavage raised the proliferation index by 2.9-fold and FO-rich diet increased by 29% only as compared to controls. Concomitantly, FO given by gavage was more effective to increase TBARS content in plasma. The proportion of some fatty acids in the tissues and cells was also differently changed depending on the way FO was administered to rats: in particular: myristic, arachidonic, and eicosapentaenoic acids. This fact may partially explain the differences between both FO treatments.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Metabolic fate of glutamine in lymphocytes, macrophages and neutrophils.

Eric Newsholme's laboratory was the first to show glutamine utilization by lymphocytes and macrophages. Recently, we have found that neutrophils also utilize glutamine. This amino acid has been shown to play a role in lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine production by lymphocytes and macrophages and phagocytosis and superoxide production by macrophages and neutrophils. Knowledge of the metabolic fate of glutamine in these cells is important for the understanding of the role and function of this amino acid in the maintenance of the proliferative, phagocytic and secretory capacities of these cells. Glutamine and glucose are poorly oxidized by these cells and might produce important precursors for DNA, RNA, protein and lipid synthesis. The high rate of glutamine utilization and its importance in such cells have raised the question as to the source of this glutamine, which, according to current evidence, appears to be muscle.

Cell Division↗

PubMed1999

Effects of adrenaline on glucose and glutamine metabolism and superoxide production by rat neutrophils.

Despite the large body of information on the role of corticosteroids in regulating lymphocyte and phagocyte function, the role of the hormone adrenaline in immunoregulation is an under-investigated topic. The present study has addressed the effects of adrenaline on the rates of utilization and oxidation of glucose and glutamine, the phagocytic capacity and the rate of superoxide production by rat neutrophils. Incubation of rat neutrophils in the presence of 50 microM adrenaline caused a marked elevation in glucose metabolism, an effect that could be blocked by propranolol. Adrenaline caused a partial inhibition of glutamine utilization by neutrophils, an effect that was also blocked by propranolol. These effects of adrenaline could be mimicked by 100 microM dibutyryl cAMP. Phosphate-dependent glutaminase activity was significantly elevated in neutrophils incubated in the presence of 50 microM adrenaline or 100 microM dibutyryl cAMP for 1 h, whereas glutamine oxidation was significantly depressed (P<0.05) under these conditions. The elevation in enzyme activity was only partially blocked by propranolol. The phagocytic activity of rat neutrophils was not altered by adrenaline in the presence of either glucose or glutamine. The rate of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced superoxide production in the presence of glucose was potently reduced by the addition of 5 nM or 50 microM adrenaline. This effect could be mimicked by dibutyryl cAMP. However, when rat neutrophils were incubated in the presence of glutamine plus adrenaline (5 nM or 50 microM), the rate of superoxide production was only marginally reduced. These findings support the proposition that adrenaline may deviate the flux of glucose from the NADPH-producing pentose phosphate pathway, thus reducing substrate availability for the superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase. However, glutamine metabolism may still give rise to substantial quantities of NADPH from the glutaminolysis pathway. We postulate that glutamine metabolism may thus provide a protective mechanism against the inhibitory effect of adrenaline on superoxide production by neutrophils.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Glutamine-dependent changes in gene expression and protein activity.

The functions of glutamine are many and include, substrate for protein synthesis, anabolic precursor for muscle growth, acid-base balance in the kidney, substrate for ureogenesis in the liver, substrate for hepatic and renal gluconeogenesis, an oxidative fuel for intestine and cells of the immune system, inter-organ nitrogen transport, precursor for neurotransmitter synthesis, precursor for nucleotide and nucleic acid synthesis and precursor for glutathione production. In the present review information on the mechanism of glutamine action is presented. This amino acid has been shown to regulate the expression of several genes (such as p47phox, p22phox, gp91phox, alpha-actin and fibronectin) and activate several proteins (such as ASK1, c-myc, c-jun and p70s6k).

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Acute effects of isolated and combined L-alanine and L-glutamine on hepatic gluconeogenesis, ureagenesis and glycaemic recovery in experimental short-term insulin induced hypoglycaemia.

The acute effects of isolated and combined L-alanine (L-Ala) and L-glutamine (L-Gln) on liver gluconeogenesis, ureagenesis and glycaemic recovery during short-term insulin-induced hypoglycaemia (IIH) were investigated. For this purpose, 24-h fasted rats that received intraperitoneal injection of regular insulin (1.0 U/Kg) were investigated. The control group (COG group) were represented by rats which received saline. The studies were performed 30 min after insulin (IIH group) or saline (COG group) injection. Livers from IIH and COG groups were perfused with basal or saturating levels of L-Ala, L-Gln or L-Gln + L-Ala (L-G + L-A). The production of glucose, urea, L-lactate and pyruvate in livers from IIH and COG group were markedly increased (p < 0.001) when perfused with saturating levels of L-Ala, L-Gln or L-G + L-A compared with basal levels of the same substrates. In addition, livers from IIH rats showed greater ability in producing glucose and urea from saturating levels of L-Ala compared with L-Gln or L-G + L-A. In agreement with these results, the oral administration of L-Ala (100 mg/kg) promoted better glycaemic recovery than L-Gln (100 mg/kg) or the combination of L-G (50 mg/kg) + L-A (50 mg/kg). It can be concluded that L-Ala, but not L-Gln or L-G + L-A could help glycaemic recovery by a mechanism mediated, partly at least, by the increased gluconeogenic and ureagenic efficiency of L-Ala.

Alanine↗