theanine and Sepsis

Sepsis is defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response against infection that triggers systemic inflammatory response syndrome. l-theanine (LT), a glutamate derivative, is a non-protein amino acid derived from tea (Camellia sinensis), and a valuable nutraceutical product used as an additive in the food industry. This study we aimed to investigate whether LT would exert any therapeutic effect on liver and kidney tissues in Sprague Dawley rats with sepsis induced with cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).. Rats were divided into four groups; sham, CLP, CLP+LT1 (2x250 mg/kg) and CLP+LT2 (2 × 750 mg/kg). Liver and kidney tissues were subjected to histopathological examination. Apoptotic index percentages (AI%) were examined using the TUNEL method. The oxidized glutathione to total glutathione (GSSG/TGSH) ratio (as a marker of oxidative stress, levels of caspase-3 (a marker of apoptosis), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) (as antioxidant enzymes), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the tumor necrosis factor-α to Interleukin-10 ratio (TNF-α/IL-10) (as markers of inflammation) were investigated using commercial kits. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) (a marker of oxidative stress) were determined spectrophotometrically.. A high dose of LT exhibited more significant effects in reducing oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis than a low dose of LT in liver and kidney tissues with CLP-induced sepsis (p < 0.05).. Our results indicated that LT significantly and dose-dependently inhibited sepsis induced liver and kidney injury. This effect may be attributed to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities of LT.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Cecum; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Glutamates; Kidney; Ligation; Liver; Male; Oxidative Stress; Punctures; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sepsis

The control of inflammation is important for suppressing severe sepsis. Oral administration of cystine and theanine have been shown to suppress inflammatory responses due to invasion. Furthermore, the uptake of cystine into monocytes is promoted by exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In the present study, the effects of cystine were examined in the context of inflammatory responses.. Cystine was orally administered to mice, and the levels of interleukin (IL)-6 in the blood and spleen and the survival rates were calculated after the administration of LPS. The effects of cystine as well as neutralising anti-IL-10 antibodies on the LPS-induced production of IL-6 and IL-10 were examined in a monocyte cell line.. The oral administration of cystine reduced IL-6 levels in the blood and spleen after LPS stimulation and improved survival rates. The addition of cystine to monocytes suppressed LPS-induced IL-6 production but enhanced IL-10 production. A neutralising anti-IL-10 antibody eliminated the inhibitory effects of cystine on the LPS-induced production of IL-6.. The oral administration of cystine suppressed IL-6 production following LPS stimulation and improved survival rates in mice with LPS-induced sepsis. The enhanced production of IL-10 by monocytes may be involved in this anti-inflammatory response.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Cell Line; Cystine; Disease Models, Animal; Glutamates; Humans; Interleukin-10; Interleukin-6; Lipopolysaccharides; Mice; Monocytes; Sepsis; Spleen; Survival Rate