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Alanyl-Glutamine and Glutamine Supplementation Improves 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Intestinal Epithelium Damage In Vitro

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Abstract

In this study, we have examined the role of glutamine derivatives in reducing 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced epithelial damage in an undifferentiated crypt intestinal cell line, IEC-6. In this model, we have investigated proliferation indirectly by detecting the enzyme-derived formazan dye from the tetrazolium salt WST-1 in viable cells at 24 and 48 h after 5-FU treatment. Migration was measured at 12 and 24 h after razor scraping of the cell monolayer. Cell death was measured by quantifying the percentage of apoptotic and necrotic figures by flow cytometry at 12 and 24 h following 5-FU challenge. Neither glutamine nor alanyl-glutamine prevented 5-FU-induced apoptosis and necrosis in IEC-6 cells at 12 and 24 h after 5-FU challenge. However, glutamine and alanyl-glutamine enhanced migration and proliferation when compared with 5-FU-treated controls (P < 0.05). These new findings support our earlier study on the benefit of oral glutamine in enhancing epithelial recovery after 5-FU challenge.

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by the following grants from the National Institutes of Health: ABC Grant no. 5 D43 TW001136, and GIDRT Grant no. 5 D43 TW006578.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biomedicine and Clinical Research Unit-University Hospital, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil

    Manuel B. Braga-Neto, Reinaldo B. Oriá, Manuel S. Monteiro, Andressa A. S. Maciel, Aldo A. M. Lima & Richard L. Guerrant

  2. Center for Global Health, School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, MR4, Lane Road, Room 3148, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA

    Cirle A. Warren & Richard L. Guerrant

  3. Department of Morphology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil

    Reinaldo B. Oriá & Gerly A. C. Brito

  4. Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil

    Gerly A. C. Brito & Aldo A. M. Lima

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  1. Manuel B. Braga-Neto
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Correspondence to Richard L. Guerrant.

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Braga-Neto, M.B., Warren, C.A., Oriá, R.B. et al. Alanyl-Glutamine and Glutamine Supplementation Improves 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Intestinal Epithelium Damage In Vitro. Dig Dis Sci 53, 2687–2696 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-008-0215-0

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