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Effects of glutamine on the nuclear factor-kappaB signaling pathway of murine peritoneal macrophages

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of glutamine on the expression of proteins involved in the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signaling pathway of murine peritoneal macrophages. Since glutamine is essential for the normal functioning of macrophages, it was hypothesized that in vitro glutamine supplementation would increase NF-κB activation. Peritoneal macrophages were pretreated with glutamine (0, 0.6, 2 and 10 mM) before incubation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the effects of glutamine on the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and on the expression and activity of proteins involved in the NF-κB signaling pathway were studied by an enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay, Western blotting, and an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Glutamine treatment (2 and 10 mM) increased the activation of NF-κB in LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages (P < 0.05). In non-stimulated cells, glutamine treatment (2 and 10 mM) significantly reduced IκB-α protein expression (P < 0.05). Glutamine modulates NF-κB signaling pathway by reducing the level of IκB-α, leading to an increase in NF-κB within the nucleus in peritoneal macrophages.

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by grants from the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (#07/53448-8). MMR is thankful for the PhD stipend granted by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, São Paulo University, Avenida Doutor Arnaldo, 715, São Paulo, SP, 01246-904, Brazil

    Marcelo Macedo Rogero & Maria Carolina Borges

  2. Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo University, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Primavera Borelli, Ricardo Ambrósio Fock, Karina Nakajima, Amanda Rabello Crisma & Aline Domingas Ramos

  3. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, São Paulo University, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Marco Aurélio Ramirez Vinolo & Rui Curi

  4. Department of Food and Experimental Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo University, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Julio Tirapegui

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  1. Marcelo Macedo Rogero
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  2. Primavera Borelli
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Correspondence to Marcelo Macedo Rogero.

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Rogero, M.M., Borelli, P., Fock, R.A. et al. Effects of glutamine on the nuclear factor-kappaB signaling pathway of murine peritoneal macrophages. Amino Acids 39, 435–441 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-009-0459-9

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