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l-Arginine Metabolism Impairment in Sepsis and Diseases: Causes and Consequences

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Book cover L-Arginine in Clinical Nutrition

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

Abstract

Sepsis is recognized as a common cause for admission in ICUs. In general, sepsis and many diseases lead to alterations of the metabolism of amino acids (AA), among them arginine (Ventura et al. Amino Acids 39:1417–1426, 2010) more especially. Indeed, in humans, sepsis is characterized by a substantial decrease in arginine pools. This decrease of arginine concentration is usually due to a major increase of its consumption and a decrease of its endogenous production leading to the concept of “arginine deficiency” (Ventura et al. Amino Acids 39:1417–1426, 2010). Hence, in sepsis, it is generally admitted that endogenous synthesis (i.e., arginine is a non-essential amino acid) cannot meet the needs and arginine becomes a conditionally essential AA (Pribis et al. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 36:53–59, 2012). This may have important consequences. As a matter of fact, arginine is not only a component of proteins but also a molecule that can generate a number of active metabolites (Fig. 12.1): arginine may be the precursor of nitric oxide (NO, which is essential for the immune system), of ornithine (which is recognized as a polyamine precursor), or of agmatine (which is a major regulator of cell functions). Moreover, arginine is an important element in muscle energy: after reacting with glycine and methionine, it allows the formation of creatine. Finally, arginine acts as a secretagogue (such as insulin, glucagon, growth hormones, prolactin, and catecholamines) (Wu. Amino Acids 37:1–17, 2009). This could explain why the impairment of arginine homeostasis in sepsis and several diseases can contribute to pathophysiological alterations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Fundamental and Applied Bioenergetic – U 1055, Université Joseph Fourier – UFR Chimie Biologie, 2280 rue de la Piscine, Batîment B, 38400, Saint Martin d’Hères, France

    Christophe Moinard PhD

  2. Laboratory of Nutritional Sciences, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris Descartes, 4 avenue de l’Observatoire, 75270, Paris Cedex 06, France

    Charlotte Breuillard PhD

  3. Unité de Technologies Chimiques et Biologiques pour la Santé, Inserm U 1022 CNRS UMR 8258, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques de l’Université Paris Descartes, 4 avenue de l’Observatoire, 75270, Paris Cedex 06, France

    Christine Charrueau Pharm D, PhD

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  1. Christophe Moinard PhD
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Correspondence to Christophe Moinard PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science & Technology Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

  2. Department Nutrition and Dietetics Nutritional Sciences Division School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. Nutritional Sciences Research Division Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom

    Rajkumar Rajendram

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Moinard, C., Breuillard, C., Charrueau, C. (2017). l-Arginine Metabolism Impairment in Sepsis and Diseases: Causes and Consequences. In: Patel, V., Preedy, V., Rajendram, R. (eds) L-Arginine in Clinical Nutrition. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26009-9_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26009-9_12

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