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Glutamine deficiency shifts the asthmatic state toward neutrophilic airway inflammation
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  • June-Mo Kim,
  • Yoo-Na Im,
  • Yun-Jo Chung,
  • Jung-ho Youm,
  • Suhn-Young Im,
  • Myung Kwan Han,
  • Hern Ku Lee
June-Mo Kim
Jeonbuk National University Medical School

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Yoo-Na Im
Jeonbuk National University Medical School
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Yun-Jo Chung
Jeonbuk National University
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Jung-ho Youm
Jeonbuk National University Medical School
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Suhn-Young Im
Chonnam National University
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Myung Kwan Han
Jeonbuk National University Medical School
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Hern Ku Lee
Jeonbuk National University Medical School
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Abstract

Background: The administration of L-glutamine (Gln) suppresses allergic airway inflammation via the rapid upregulation of MAPK phosphatase (MKP)-1, which functions as a negative regulator of inflammation by deactivating p38 and JNK mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). However, the role of endogenous Gln remains to be elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the mechanism by which endogenous Gln regulates MKP-1 induction and allergic airway inflammation in an ovalbumin-based murine asthma model. Methods: We depleted endogenous Gln levels using l-γ-glutamyl- p-nitroanilide (GPNA), an inhibitor of the Gln transporter ASCT2, and glutamine synthetase small interfering (si)RNA. Lentivirus expressing MKP-1 was injected to achieve overexpression of MKP-1. Asthmatic phenotypes were assessed using our previously developed ovalbumin-based murine model, which is suitable for examining sequential asthmatic events, including neutrophil infiltration. Gln levels were analyzed using a Gln assay kit. Results: GPNA or glutamine synthetase siRNA successfully depleted endogenous Gln levels. Importantly, homeostatic MKP-1 induction did not occur at all, which resulted in prolonged p38 MAPK and cytosolic phospholipase A 2 (cPLA 2) phosphorylation in Gln-deficient mice. Gln deficiency augmented all examined asthmatic reactions, but it exhibited a strong bias toward increasing the neutrophil count, which was not observed in MKP-1-overexpressing lungs. This neutrophilia was inhibited by a cPLA 2 inhibitor and a leukotriene B4 inhibitor, but not by dexamethasone. Conclusion: Gln deficiency leads to the impairment of MKP-1 induction and activation of p38 MAPK and cPLA 2, resulting in the augmentation of neutrophilic, more so than eosinophilic, airway inflammation.
19 Jul 2021Submitted to Allergy
19 Jul 2021Submission Checks Completed
19 Jul 2021Assigned to Editor
21 Jul 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
26 Jul 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
27 Jul 2021Editorial Decision: Accept
Apr 2022Published in Allergy volume 77 issue 4 on pages 1180-1191. 10.1111/all.15121