Glutamine and the immune system.

Abstract

This chapter describes the metabolism of glutamine and its influence and mechanism on immune cell (i.e., T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, macrophages, neutrophil and cytokines) functions. The plasma and muscle glutamine levels in catabolic stress, effect of exogenous glutamine on immune function and survival in animal models of infection and trauma, provision of glutamine in catabolic stress states in humans, and the role of glutamine in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes are discussed.