GLUTAMINE ACCELERATES INTERLEUKIN-6 PRODUCTION BY RAT PERITONEAL-MACROPHAGES IN CULTURE

The effect of glutamine on the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) was studied in rat peritoneal macrophages in culture, A maximal production of IL-6 was measured at 4 h in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated ma crophages, and addition of glutamine (5 mM) anticipated this increase by 1 h without any increase in the IL-6 mRNA level, The effect of glut amine required the presence of LPS, Thus, glutamine accelerates IL-6 p roduction from the pre-existing mRNA, The effect of glutamine was not mediated by cell swelling since culture of macrophages in hypoosmotic condition decreased the production of IL-6 in the culture medium with a corresponding decrease in the IL-6 mRNA level, (C) 1997 Federation o f European Biochemical Societies.