GLUTAMINE, LYMPHOCYTE-PROLIFERATION AND CYTOKINE PRODUCTION

The present in vitro study was conducted to examine how glutamine infl uences the lymphocyte function, Glutamine had no effect on the product ion of interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6 or tumour necrosis factor-alp ha, bur influenced the production of interleukin-2 and interferon-gamm a. Glutamate, leucine, isoleucine and valine (substrates for glutamine production), or the combination of glutamate and leucine, did not inf luence the lymphocyte proliferative response or the cytokine productio n. In conclusion, glutamine influenced the production of some T-cell-d erived cytokines, and is thereby important for optimal lymphocyte prol iferation. Furthermore, the results show that lymphocytes are not capa ble of producing glutamine.