Immunostimulatory effects of arginine in normal and injured rats

Effect of Different Enteral Nutrients on Bacterial Translocation in Experimental Obstructive Jaundice

“…Gianotti et al [19] showed that dietary arginine reduced bacterial translocation in transfusion-induced immunosuppression and gut-derived sepsis in mice by improving bactericidal mechanisms. Barbul et al [31] suggested that supplemental arginine corrects immune depression in injured rats. Recent evidence suggests that arginine alone has direct effects on macrophages and lym- Kuru/Dinc/Altınok/Aksoz/Camlibel/ Gulcelik/Alagol phocytes that enhance their responsiveness to antigenic stimulation [32].…”

“…Macrophage is a regulator of lymphocyte activity and its dysfunction might play a central role in altering the immune competence of rats with biliary obstruction. The macrophage cytotoxic effector molecule is a reactive radical nitric oxide (NO) derived from L-arginine [19,26,[29][30][31][32].…”

Role of Arginine and Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Wound Healing and Infection

“…These effects are thought to be due, in part, to a reduction in bacterial translocation from the intestine. 27,28 The effects of arginine are also associated with production of NO, 29,30 restoration of depressed macrophage functions, 31 improvements in T cell function [32][33][34] and the production of polyamines. 35 While excess enteral arginine may be protective in preventing infections, it does not seem to be as effective in combatting established infections.…”

The Sir David Cuthbertson Medal Lecture 1992

“…The potential benefit of the basic amino acid, arginine, as a nutrient of this type has been suggested by its ability to reduce the growth and spread of tumours in experimental animals (Barbul, 1986). These effects appear to be as a consequence of the immune stimulatory effects of arginine in these animals (Barbul et al 1977(Barbul et al , 1980Siato et al 1987;Reynolds et al 1988~). Similarly in man arginine has been demonstrated to enhance a number of immunological mechanisms (Barbul et al 1981;Daly et al 1990).…”