Abstract
Although branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are commonly used as a strategy to recover nutritional status of critically ill patients, recent findings on their role as immunonutrients have been associated with unfavorable outcomes, especially in obese patients. The present study aimed to explore the effects of different BCAA supplementation protocols in the inflammatory response of LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Cell cultures were divided into five groups, with and without BCAA supplementation, (2 mmol/L of each amino acid). Then, cell cultures followed three different treatment protocols, consisting of a pretreatment (PT), an acute treatment (AT), and a chronic treatment (CT) with BCAA and LPS stimulation (1 µg/mL). Cell viability was analyzed by MTT assay, NO production was assessed by the Griess reaction and IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and PGE2 synthesis, was evaluated by ELISA. BCAA significantly increased cell viability in AT and CT protocols, and NO and IL-10 synthesis in all treatment protocols. IL-6 synthesis was only increased in PT and CT protocols. TNF-α and PGE2 synthesis were not altered in any of the protocols and groups. BCAA supplementation was able to increase both pro and anti-inflammatory mediators synthesis by RAW 264.7 macrophages, which was influenced by the protocol applied. Moreover, these parameters were significantly increased by isoleucine supplementation, highlighting a potential research field for future studies.






Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.Availability of data and materials
This study is based on the thesis of Andrea Bonvini, openly available in Biblioteca Digital-USP at https://doi.org/10.11606/T.9.2019.tde-26082019-112844.
Code availability
Not applicable.
Abbreviations
- AT:
-
Acute treatment
- CAT1:
-
Cationic amino acid transporter
- COX-2:
-
Cyclooxygenase 2
- CT:
-
Chronic treatment
- CTL:
-
Control group
- DMEM:
-
Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium
- DMEM-S:
-
Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium with BCAA supplementation
- DMSO:
-
Dimethyl sulfoxide
- ELISA:
-
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
- FBS:
-
Fetal bovine serum
- IFNs:
-
Type I interferons
- IL:
-
Interleukins
- ILE:
-
Isoleucine group
- iNOS:
-
Inducible nitric oxide synthase
- LEU:
-
Leucine group
- LPS:
-
Lipopolysaccharide
- mTOR:
-
Mammalian target of rapamycin
- MTT:
-
(3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) tetrazolium
- NADH:
-
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
- NADPH:
-
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate
- NF-kB:
-
Nuclear factor kappa-B
- NO:
-
Nitric oxide
- PT:
-
Pretreatment
- SIRS:
-
Systemic inflammatory response syndrome
- T2D:
-
Type 2 diabetes
- TCA:
-
Tricarboxylic acid cycle
- TLR4:
-
Toll-like receptor 4
- TNF- α:
-
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha
- TSC1:
-
Tuberous sclerosis complex 1
- VAL:
-
Valine group
References
Aghababazadeh M, Kerachian MA (2014) Cell fasting: cellular response and application of serum starvation. J Fasting Heal 2:147–150. https://doi.org/10.22038/JFH.2014.3928
Antoniades CG, Berry PA, Wendon JA, Vergani D (2008) The importance of immune dysfunction in determining outcome in acute liver failure. J Hepatol 49:845–861. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2008.08.009
Bellows CF, Jaffe BM (1999) Glutamine is essential for nitric oxide synthesis by murine macrophages. J Surg Res 86:213–219. https://doi.org/10.1006/jsre.1999.5713
Ben-Sahra I, Manning BD (2017) mTORC1 signaling and the metabolic control of cell growth. Curr Opin Cell Biol 45:72–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceb.2017.02.012
Bonvini A, Coqueiro AY, Tirapegui J et al (2018) Immunomodulatory role of branched-chain amino acids. Nutr Rev 76:840–856. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuy037
Bower RH, Muggia-Sullam M, Vallgren S et al (1986) Branched chain amino acid-enriched solutions in the septic patient: a randomized, prospective trial. Ann Surg 203:13–20. https://doi.org/10.1097/00000658-198601000-00003
Bryk J, Ochoa JB, Correia MIT et al (2008) Effect of citrulline and glutamine on nitric oxide production in RAW2647 cells in an arginine-depleted environment. Journal of Parenter Enter Nutr. 32:377–383
Calder PC (2006) Branched-chain amino acids and immunity. J Nutr 136:288S–293S
Cani PD, Knauf C, Iglesias MA et al (2006) Metabolic endotoxemia initiates obesity and insulin resistance. Am Diabetes Assoc 55:1484–1490. https://doi.org/10.2337/diabetes
Cerra FB, Mazuski JE, Chute E et al (1983) Branched chain metabolic support: a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial in surgical stress. Ann Surg 199:286–291
Chandra A, Enkhbaatar P, Nakano Y et al (2006) Sepsis: emerging role of nitric oxide and selectins. Clinics 61:71–76. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1807-59322006000100012
Choudry HA, Pan M, Karinch AM, Souba WW (2006) Branched-chain amino acid-enriched nutritional support in surgical and cancer patients. J Nutr 136:314S–318S
Chuang JC, Yu CL, Wang SR (1990) Modulation of human lymphocyte proliferation by amino acids. Clin Exp Immunol 81:173–176. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2249.1990.tb05310.x
Crissman HA, Steinkamp JA (1973) Rapid, simultaneous measurement of DNA, protein, and cell volume in single cells from large mammalian cell populations. J Cell Biol 59(3):766–771. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.59.3.766
Dan HC, Ebbs A, Pasparakis M et al (2014) Akt-dependent activation of mTORC1 complex involves phosphorylation of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) by IκB kinase α (IKKα). J Biol Chem 289:25227–25240. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M114.554881
De Bandt J-P, Cynober L (2006) Therapeutic use of branched-chain amino acids in burn, trauma, and sepsis. J Nutr 136:308S–313S. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/136.1.308S
De Simone R, Vissicchio F, Mingarelli C et al (2013) Branched-chain amino acids influence the immune properties of microglial cells and their responsiveness to pro-inflammatory signals. Biochim Biophys Acta 1832:650–659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbadis.2013.02.001
Fang H, Pengal RA, Cao X et al (2004) Lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophage inflammatory response is regulated by SHIP. J Immunol 173:360–366. https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.173.1.360
Freund HR, Ryan JA, Fischer JE (1978) Amino acid derangements in patients with sepsis: treatment with branched chain amino acid rich infusions. Ann Surg 188:423–430
Freund H, Hoover HC, Atamian S, Fischer JE (1979) Infusion of the branched chain amino acids in postoperative patients. Anticatabolic properties. Ann Surg 190:18–23. https://doi.org/10.1097/00000658-197907000-00004
Frost RA, Lang CH (2011) mTor signaling in skeletal muscle during sepsis and inflammation: where does it all go wrong? Physiology 26:83–96. https://doi.org/10.1152/physiol.00044.2010
García-de-Lorenzo A, Ortíz-Leyba C, Planas M et al (1997) Parenteral administration of different amounts of branch-chain amino acids in septic patients: clinical and metabolic aspects. Crit Care Med 25:418–424
Giovannoni G, Land JM, Keir G et al (1997) Adaptation of the nitrate reductase and Griess reaction methods for the measurement of serum nitrate plus nitrite levels. Ann Clin Biochem An Int J Biochem Lab Med 34:193–198. https://doi.org/10.1177/000456329703400212
Gogos CA, Drosou E, Bassaris HP, Skoutelis A (2000) Pro-versus anti-inflammatory cytokine profile in patients with severe sepsis: a marker for prognosis and future therapeutic options. J Infect Dis 181:176–180. https://doi.org/10.1086/315214
Gu C, Mao X, Chen D, Yu B, Yang Q (2019) Isoleucine plays an important role for maintaining immune function. Curr Protein Pept Sci 20(7):644–651. https://doi.org/10.2174/1389203720666190305163135
Guevara I, Iwanejko J, Dembińska-Kieć A et al (1998) Determination of nitrite/nitrate in human biological material by the simple Griess reaction. Clin Chim Acta 274:177–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-8981(98)00060-6
Gvirtz R, Ogen-Shtern N, Cohen G (2020) Kinetic cytokine secretion profile of LPS-induced inflammation in the human skin organ culture. Pharmaceutics 12(4):299. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics12040299
Harima Y, Yamasaki T, Hamabe S et al (2010) Effect of a late evening snack using branched-chain amino acid-enriched nutrients in patients undergoing hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatol Res 40:574–584. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1872-034X.2010.00665.x
Hayaishi S, Chung H, Kudo M et al (2011) Oral branched-chain amino acid granules reduce the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and improve event-free survival in patients with liver cirrhosis. Dig Dis 29:326–332. https://doi.org/10.1159/000327571
Holeček M (2002) Relation between glutamine, branched-chain amino acids, and protein metabolism. Nutrition 18:130–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0899-9007(01)00767-5
Holeček M (2018) Branched-chain amino acids in health and disease: metabolism, alterations in blood plasma, and as supplements. Nutr Metab 15:33. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-018-0271-1
Hutson SM, Sweatt AJ, LaNoue KF (2005) Branched-chain amino acid metabolism: implications for establishing safe intakes. J Nutr 135:1557S–1564S. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/135.6.1557S
Ishihara T, Iwasa M, Tanaka H et al (2014) Effect of branched-chain amino acids in patients receiving intervention for hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 20:2673–2680. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v20.i10.2673
Jo HY, Kim Y, Park HW et al (2015) The unreliability of MTT assay in the cytotoxic test of primary cultured glioblastoma cells. Exp Neurobiol 24:235. https://doi.org/10.5607/en.2015.24.3.235
Kawaguchi T, Shiraishi K, Ito T et al (2014) Branched-chain amino acids prevent hepatocarcinogenesis and prolong survival of patients with cirrhosis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 12:1012–1018.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2013.08.050
Kelly B, O’Neill LAJ (2015) Metabolic reprogramming in macrophages and dendritic cells in innate immunity. Cell Res 25:771–784. https://doi.org/10.1038/cr.2015.68
Krishan A (1975) Rapid flow cytofluorometric analysis of mammalian cell cycle by propidium iodide staining. J Cell Biol 66(1):188–193. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.66.1.188
Kum WWS, Cameron SB, Hung RWY, Kalyan S, Chow AW (2001) Temporal sequence and kinetics of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine secretion induced by toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Infect Immun 69(12):7544–7549. https://doi.org/10.1128/iai.69.12.7544-7549.2001
Kuroda H, Ushio A, Miyamoto Y et al (2010) Effects of branched-chain amino acid-enriched nutrient for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma following radiofrequency ablation: a one-year prospective trial. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 25:1550–1555. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1746.2010.06306.x
Lee DF, Hung MC (2007) All roads lead to mTOR: integrating inflammation and tumor angiogenesis. Cell Cycle 6:3011–3014. https://doi.org/10.4161/cc.6.24.5085
Lee JH, Park E, Jin HJ, Lee Y (2017) Anti-inflammatory and anti-genotoxic activity of branched chain amino acids (BCAA) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated RAW. Food Sci Biotechnol 26:1371–1377. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-017-0165-4
Li P, Yin Y-L, Li D et al (2007) Amino acids and immune function. Br J Nutr 98:237. https://doi.org/10.1017/S000711450769936X
Liu T, Zhang L, Joo D, Sun S-C (2017) NF-κB signaling in inflammation. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2:17023. https://doi.org/10.1038/sigtrans.2017.23
Luis Muñoz-Carrillo J, Francisco Contreras-Cordero J, Gutiérrez-Coronado O et al (2019) Cytokine profiling plays a crucial role in activating immune system to clear infectious pathogens. Immune response activation and immunomodulation. IntechOpen, London
Lynch CJ, Adams SH (2014) Branched-chain amino acids in metabolic signalling and insulin resistance. Nat Rev Endocrinol 10:723–736. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2014.171
Mao X, Gu C, Ren M, Chen D, Yu B, He J, Yu J, Zheng P, Luo J, Luo Y, Wang J, Tian G, Yang Q (2018) l-Isoleucine administration alleviates rotavirus infection and immune response in the Weaned Piglet Model. Front Immunol 16(9):1654. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2018.01654
Mattick JSA, Kamisoglu K, Ierapetritou MG et al (2013) Branched-chain amino acid supplementation: impact on signaling and relevance to critical illness. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Syst Biol Med 5:449–460. https://doi.org/10.1002/wsbm.1219
Nakamura I, Ochiai K, Imai Y et al (2007) Restoration of innate host defense responses by oral supplementation of branched-chain amino acids in decompensated cirrhotic patients/. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1872-034X.2007.00166.x
Neves AL, Coelho J, Couto L et al (2013) Metabolic endotoxemia: a molecular link between obesity and cardiovascular risk. J Mol Endocrinol 51:R51–R64. https://doi.org/10.1530/jme-13-0079
Nie C, He T, Zhang W et al (2018) Branched chain amino acids: beyond nutrition metabolism. Int J Mol Sci 19:954. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19040954
Nishikawa H, Osaki Y (2014) Clinical significance of therapy using branched-chain amino acid granules in patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatol Res 44:149–158. https://doi.org/10.1111/hepr.12194
Oeckinghaus A, Ghosh S (2009) The NF-B family of transcription factors and its regulation. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 1:a000034–a000034. https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a000034
Ren M, Cai S, Zhou T, Zhang S, Li S, Jin E, Che C, Zeng X, Zhang T, Qiao S (2019) Isoleucine attenuates infection induced by E coli challenge through the modulation of intestinal endogenous antimicrobial peptide expression and the inhibition of the increase in plasma endotoxin and IL-6 in weaned pigs. Food Funct. 10(6):3535–3542. https://doi.org/10.1039/c9fo00218a(Erratum in: Food Funct. 2019 Jun 12)
Rieger AM, Nelson KL, Konowalchuk JD, Barreda DR (2011) Modified annexin V/propidium iodide apoptosis assay for accurate assessment of cell death. J Vis Exp. 50:e2597. https://doi.org/10.3791/2597
Rivas-Santiago CE, Rivas-Santiago B, León DA, Castañeda-Delgado J, Pando RH (2011) Induction of β-defensins by l-isoleucine as novel immunotherapy in experimental murine tuberculosis. Clin Exp Immunol 164(1):80–89. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2249.2010.04313.x
Rogero MM, Borelli P, Vinolo MAR et al (2008) Dietary glutamine supplementation affects macrophage function, hematopoiesis and nutritional status in early weaned mice. Clin Nutr 27:386–397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2008.03.004
Rosenthal MD, Moore FA (2016) Persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism: evolution of multiple organ dysfunction. Surg Infect 17:167–172. https://doi.org/10.1089/sur.2015.184
Säemann MD, Haidinger M, Hecking M et al (2009) The multifunctional role of mTOR in innate immunity: implications for transplant immunity. Am J Transplant 9:2655–2661. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-6143.2009.02832.x
Schulte W, Bernhagen J, Bucala R (2013) Cytokines in sepsis: potent immunoregulators and potential therapeutic targets—an updated view. Mediat Inflamm 2013:1–16. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/165974
Sharif O, Bolshakov VN, Raines S et al (2007) Transcriptional profiling of the LPS induced NF-kappaB response in macrophages. BMC Immunol 8:1471–2172. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2172-8-1
Shibata M, Gonda K, Shimura T et al (2018) SIRS, CARS and MARS in relationship to cancer cachexia and its clinical implications. Ann Cancer Res Ther 26:54–59. https://doi.org/10.4993/acrt.26.54
Sun L, Shih Y, Lu C et al (2008) Randomized, controlled study of branched chain amino acid-enriched total parenteral nutrition in malnourished patients with gastrointestinal cancer undergoing surgery. Am Surg 74:237–242
Takeda K, Akira S (2004) TLR signaling pathways. Semin Immunol 16:3–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smim.2003.10.003
Tamanna N, Mahmood N (2014) Emerging roles of branched-chain amino acid supplementation in human diseases. Int Sch Res Not 2014:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/235619
Tanaka T, Narazaki M, Kishimoto T (2014) IL-6 in inflammation, immunity, and disease. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 6:a016295–a016295. https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a016295
Temiz-Resitoglu M, Kucukkavruk SP, Guden DS et al (2017) Activation of mTOR/IκB-α/NF-κB pathway contributes to LPS-induced hypotension and inflammation in rats. Eur J Pharmacol 802:7–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2017.02.034
Titheradge MA (1998) The enzymatic measurement of nitrate and nitrite. Nitric oxide protocols. Humana Press, New Jersey, pp 83–92
Tsukishiro T, Shimizu Y, Higuchi K, Watanabe A (2000) Effect of branched-chain amino acids on the composition and cytolytic activity of liver-associated lymphocytes in rats. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 15:849–859
Vincent JL, Zhang H, Szabo C, Preiser JC (1998) Effects of nitric oxide in septic shock. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 161:1781–1785
Viola A, Munari F, Sánchez-Rodríguez R et al (2019) The metabolic signature of macrophage responses. Front Immunol. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2019.01462
Vitale RF, Ribeiro FAQ (2007) The role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in bone resorption present in middle ear cholesteatoma. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 73:123–127
Ward NS, Casserly B, Ayala A (2008) The compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome (CARS) in critically ill patients. Clin Chest Med 29:617–625. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccm.2008.06.010
Zhang S, Ren M, Zeng X et al (2014) Leucine stimulates ASCT2 amino acid transporter expression in porcine jejunal epithelial cell line (IPEC-J2) through PI3K/Akt/mTOR and ERK signaling pathways. Amino Acids 46:2633–2642. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-014-1809-9
Zhao J, Feng L, Liu Y, Jiang W, Wu P, Jiang J, Zhang Y, Zhou X (2014) Effect of dietary isoleucine on the immunity, antioxidant status, tight junctions and microflora in the intestine of juvenile Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian). Fish Shellfish Immunol 41(2):663–673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2014.10.002
Zhenyukh O, Civantos E, Ruiz-Ortega M et al (2017) High concentration of branched-chain amino acids promotes oxidative stress, inflammation and migration of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells via mTORC1 activation. Free Radic Biol Med 104:165–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2017.01.009
Funding
This research was funded by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), grant numbers 2016/04910-0 and 2016/11360-6.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Conceptualization: Andrea Bonvini and Marcelo Macedo Rogero; methodology: Andrea Bonvini, Leonardo Mendes Bella, Primavera Borelli and Ricardo Ambrosio Fock; software: Andrea Bonvini, Audrey Yule Coqueiro and Leonardo Mendes Bella, formal analysis: Andrea Bonvini and Leonardo Mendes Bella; writing—original draft preparation, Andrea Bonvinii and Marcelo Macedo Rogero; writing—review and editing: Andrea Bonvini, Marcelo Macedo Rogero, Audrey Yule Coqueiro, Raquel Raizel, Leonardo Mendes Bella, Primavera Borelli, Ricardo Ambrosio Fock and Julio Tirapegui; Supervision: Marcelo Macedo Rogero, Primavera Borelli, Ricardo Ambrosio Fock and Julio Tirapegui; funding acquisition: Andrea Bonvini, Audrey Yule Coqueiro and Julio Tirapegui.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflicts of interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.
Consent to participate
Not applicable.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Ethics approval
Not applicable.
Informed consent
Not applicable.
Research involving human participants and/or animals
Not applicable.
Additional information
Handling Editor: E. Closs.
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bonvini, A., Rogero, M.M., Coqueiro, A.Y. et al. Effects of different branched-chain amino acids supplementation protocols on the inflammatory response of LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Amino Acids 53, 597–607 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-021-02940-w
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-021-02940-w


