Effects of Glutamine on Expression of Nuclear Factor-κB and Heat Shock Protein 70 in PBMC of Patients with COPD

OBJECTIVE To discuss the effects of glutamine on the nuclear factor factor-κB(NF-κB) and heat shock protein 70(HSP70) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). METHODS Thirty patients with acute exacerbtion of COPD(AECOPD) were improved to stable stage(SCOPD), and then divided into two groups: blank control group and Gln group. Fifteen healthy people were in the normal group. The levels of NF-κB and HSP70 gene expression were detected by real-time PCR. RESULTS The levels of gene expression of NF-κB and HSP700 in blank control of AECOPD and SCOPD were higher than those in the normal group(P<0.05). After glutamine treatment, the expression of HSP70 increased in both AECOPD and SCOPD(P<0.05), while NF-κB P65 decreased(P<0.01). CONCLUSION Glutamine can inhibit expression of NF-κB and increase HSP70.