Effects of dietary glutamine on adhesion molecule expression and oxidative stress in mice with streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes

Background & aims: Glutamine (Gln) is known to have immunomodulatory effects. Previous studies reported that Gln promotes insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes. However, the effects of Gln on insulin-deficient type 1 diabetes are not clear. This study investigated the effects of dietary Gln supplementation on adhesion molecule expression and oxidative damage in type 1 diabetic mice. Methods: There were 1 normal control (NC) group and 2 diabetic groups in this study. Mice in the NC group were fed a regular chow diet. One diabetic group (DM) was fed a common semipurified diet while the other diabetic group received a diet in which part of the casein was replaced by Gln (DM-Gln), which provided 25% of the total amino acid nitrogen for 6 wk. Diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight. Blood samples and the liver and kidneys of the animals were collected at the end of the study for further analysis. Results: Plasma glucose, fructosamine contents and adhesion molecule expressions were significantly higher in the diabetic groups than in the NC group. The DM group had higher leukocyte CD11a/CD18 expression. In diabetic mice, nitrotyrosine concentrations and myeloperoxidase activities were higher and the reduced to oxidized glutathione ratio was lower in liver and/or kidney. These alterations were not found in diabetic mice supplemented with Gln. Conclusions: These results suggest that supplemental dietary Gln increased the antioxidant potential and consequently decreased leukocyte adhesion molecule expression and oxidative stress in organs of mice with type 1 diabetes.