Leucine metabolism in tnf-( and endotoxin treated rats. the contribution of hepatic tissue.. Holeek, M., L. [grave]eprongl, F. Skopec, C. Andrs, and M. Pecka. Departments of Physiology, Immunology, Medicine, and Radioisotope Laboratory, Charles University School of Medicine, Hradec Kr[beta]lov[theta]; and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
APStracts 4:0181E, 1997.
The effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-(; cachectin) and lipopolysaccharide of Salmonella enteritidis (LPS; endotoxin) on leucine metabolism in rats were evaluated in the whole body using i.v. infusion of L-[1-14C]leucine and in isolated perfused liver (IPL) using the single pass perfusion technique with (-keto[1 -14C]isocaproate as a tracer for measurement of ketoisocaproic acid (KIC) oxidation, and the recirculation technique for measurement of hepatic amino acid exchanges. The data obtained in TNF-( and LPS groups were compared with those obtained in controls. Both TNF-( and LPS treatment induced an increase of whole-body leucine turnover, oxidation and clearance. As the result of a higher increase of leucine oxidation than of incorporation into the pool of body proteins, the fractional oxidation of leucine was increased. The fractional rate of protein synthesis increased significantly in the spleen (both in TNF-( and LPS rats), in blood plasma, liver, colon, kidneys and gastrocnemius muscle (in LPS rats) and in lungs (TNF-( treated rats) while it decreased in the jejunum (LPS rats). In IPL of TNF-( and LPS treated rats a decrease of KIC oxidation and higher uptake of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA; valine, leucine, and isoleucine) were observed when compared with control animals. We hypothesize that the negative consequences of increased whole-body proteolysis and of increased oxidation of BCAA induced by TNF-( and/or LPS are reduced by decreased activity of hepatic branched -chain ketoacid dehydrogenase that can help resupply BCAA to the body.

Received 18 February 1997; accepted in final form 8 August 1997,
APS Manuscript Number E79-7.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Endocrinol. Metab.).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1997 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 27 August 1997