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Glutamine Uptake and Immunomodulation: An Overview

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Glutamine in Clinical Nutrition

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

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Abstract

The cells of the vertebrate immune system provide protection from infection by activating a variety of defense mechanisms. During activation, cells may grow in size, proliferate, and produce effector molecules, all of which represent energetically demanding processes. Failure to meet the energetic and biosynthetic demands may lead to immune dysfunction and disease. A common feature of immune cell activation is increased uptake and utilization of the amino acid glutamine. Glutamine is a key metabolic intermediate, allowing it to serve multiple roles during immune activation. In lymphocytes, increased glutamine uptake may provide biosynthetic precursors, via entry into the citric acid cycle, and may also serve as an exchange substrate for uptake of other amino acids. In macrophages, high glutamine import rates are required for efficient phagocytosis of opsonized particles. Glutamine can also serve as a biosynthetic precursor for arginine, and is able to support nitric oxide synthesis when arginine levels are low. In neutrophils, glutamine is required for production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, but also for maintaining pools of reduced glutathione, helping maintain neutrophil viability. Overall, glutamine represents a key amino acid in supporting the activation of immune cells, and represents a potential therapeutic target for both suboptimal and hyperactive immune responses.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA

    Kenneth Frauwirth Ph.D.

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  1. Kenneth Frauwirth Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Kenneth Frauwirth Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Intensive Care, Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals, London, United Kingdom

    Rajkumar Rajendram

  2. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences, School of Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

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Frauwirth, K. (2015). Glutamine Uptake and Immunomodulation: An Overview. In: Rajendram, R., Preedy, V., Patel, V. (eds) Glutamine in Clinical Nutrition. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1932-1_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1932-1_4

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1931-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1932-1

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