Arginine stimulates intestinal cell migration through a focal adhesion kinase dependent mechanism

• DOI: 10.1136/gut.2003.027540
• Publication Date: 2004-03-12T01:34:27Z
• Authors: J M Rhoads
• Keywords: PTK2; Polyamine

<b>Background:</b>l-Arginine is a nutritional supplement that may be useful for promoting intestinal repair. Arginine metabolised by the oxidative deiminase pathway to form nitric oxide (NO) and arginase yield ornithine polyamines. <b>Aims:</b> To determine if arginine stimulates restitution via activation of NO synthesis and/or polyamine synthesis. <b>Methods:</b> We determined effects on cultured cell migration, production, levels, focal adhesion kinase, key mediator migration. <b>Results:</b> increased rate migration in dose dependent biphasic manner, was additive with bovine serum concentrate (BSC). an donor activated kinase (a tyrosine which localises matrix contacts mediates β1 integrin signalling) after wounding. stimulated (FAK) signalling, as demonstrated using adenovirus mediated transfection negative mutant FAK. production blocked synthase inhibitors. required polyamines but elevating extracellular concentration above 0.4 mM did not enhance cellular levels. <b>Conclusions:</b> These results showed l-arginine through FAK pathways combination therapy BSC separate convergent pathways.