Cationic amino acid transporter 2 regulates inflammatory homeostasis in the lung.

ABSTRACT: Arginine is an amino acid that serves as a substrate for nitric oxide synthase and arginase. As such, arginine has the potential to influence diverse fundamental processes in the lung. Here we report that the arginine transport protein, cationic amino acid transporter (CAT)2, has a critical role in regulating lung inflammatory responses. Analysis of CAT2-deficient mice revealed spontaneous inflammation in the lung. Marked eosinophilia, associated with up-regulation of eotaxin-1, was present in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of 3-week-old CAT2-deficient mice. The eosinophilia was gradually replaced by neutrophilia in adult mice, while eotaxin-1 levels decreased and GRO-alpha levels increased. Despite the presence of activated alveolar macrophages in CAT2-deficient mice, NO production was

SUBMITTER: Rothenberg ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1595447 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature