The effect of glutamine on NF-κB expression in rat lungs after intestinal ischemia/reperfusion

Objective To evaluate the effect of pretreatment with glutamine on lung injury induced by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion in rats. Methods Twenty-five adult Sprague Dawley rats weighing 300-350 g were randomized into 5 groups: Sham group,Intestinal ischemia/reperfusion group(Ⅱ/R),Glutamine group(Gln),Quercetin group(Q) and Quercetin + Glutamine group(Q+G).Quercetin or saline was(i.p.) 4 hours before intestinal ischemia/reperfusion.Glutamine or saline was injected through tail vein 30 min before the occlusion of superior wesenteric artery(SMA).After 60 min of the occlusion of SMA and 90 min of reperfusion,rats were sacrificed to harvest lung tissues.The levels of heat shock protein-70(HSP-70) and Nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) in the lung tissues were detected by Western blot.Myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde and pathological changes were also measured. Results The expression of HSP-70 protein in rat lungs from Gln group was significantly inhanced.The expression of NF-κB in Gln group were obviously lower than other groups(except sham group).The levels of MPO and MDA in rat lungs was also decreased in Gln group. Conclusions Pretreatment with Glutamine can attenuate lung injury induced by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion in rats,and the enhancement of HSP-70 expression is possibly one of the potential mechanisms.