The effect of the immunomodulator on the total parenteral nutrition

2003 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 13671871
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Pediatric surgery
• Research Institution: Dokkyo University School of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: TSUCHIOKA Takashi Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Medicine, Lecture, 医学部, 講師 (30188560)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): FUJIWARA Toshio Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Medicine, Associate professor, 医学部, 助教授 (70133345)
• Project Period (FY): 2001 – 2003
• Keywords: Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) / Immunonutrition / Immunomodulator / Bacterial translocation (BT) / Taurine / Glutamic acid / Endotoxin (ET)

Research Abstract

The objective of the present study was to ascertain whether simultaneous administration of glutamic acid and taurine on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) could improve intestinal mucosal atrophy and suppress bacterial translocation. Furthermore, simultaneous administration of glutau2hic acid and taurine was used to facilitate immunoreactions under invasive stress and alleviate injury to important organs.
Using 5-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats, a 5-day 1TN study was conducted. Commercially available fluid containing glutamic acid was used for TPN in one group, while the same solution was enhanced with taurine (500 mg/kg/day) and used in another group. Furthermore, after 5 days of TPN with either conventional solution or solution enhanced with taurine, rats were intraperitoneally administered 2 mg/kg of Escberichia coli lipopolysaccharide to induce peritonitis. Blood sampling was performed 3 h after the end of the 5 days to measure levels of amino acids and cytokines in plasma and levels of endotoxin (ET) in portal blood. And so, the small intestine, liver and lung were histopathologically analyzed. Flow cytometory was performed to analyze Th cells in peripheral lymphocytes and ascertain changes in immunocompetence.
Simultaneous administration of glutamic acid and taurine : 1)improved small intestinal mucosal thickness and villus height during TPN ; 2)levels of taurine in the small intestine arid plasma increased, and the level of citrulline in the small intestine improved, and 3)decreased expression of adhesion molecules in the liver and lung and improved microcirculation in the liver were also confirmed. Furthermore, in septic status, simultaneous administration of glutamic acid and taurine : 1)suppressed increases in blood levels of IL-6 ; 2)reduced suppression of IL-2 in peripheral lymphocytes ; and 3)reduced onset of hepatic apoptosis and VCAM-1 expression, since expression of VCAM-1 in lung was decreased, severity of pulmonary bleeding was reduced.
Simultaneous administration of glutamic acid and taurine may act as an immunomodulator.