Impact of dietary glutamate on the development of gut mucosal immunity in hybrid striped bass
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abstract
Aquatic species (especially farmed fish) are continuously challenged by environmental pathogens and faced with high risks for infectious diseases. Fish [including hybrid striped bass (HSB)] have high requirements for dietary glutamate, but its role in immune function is unknown. In preliminary studies with HSB, we discovered that: (1) dietary glutamate was the major metabolic fuel for intestinal immune cells; (2) glutathione (a product of glutamate) played an important role in respiratory bursts by intestinal mucosal leukocytes for innate immunity; and (3) HSB had high rates of mortality when fed glutamate-free diets. Therefore, we hypothesize that dietary glutamate is crucial for the development of innate and adaptive immunities in the intestinal mucosa of HSB. We will test this hypothesis by pursuing three specific objectives to determine: (1) the metabolism of glutamate by mucosal leukocytes and intraepithelial lymphocytes, as well as mucosal cytokine gene expression and IgM levels in developing HSB; (2) effects of dietary glutamate on the intestinal mucosal immune system in HSB; and (3) the role of mucosal glutathione synthesis in mediating effects of dietary glutamate on the intestinal mucosal immune system in HSB. This work is highly significant, because it will generate new fundamental knowledge about glutamate nutrition in improving intestinal mucosal health and maximum survival of HSB; and provide a new nutritional method for glutamate as an adjuvant in vaccine development. The proposed research addresses a priority area of A1221 focusing on the effects of metabolic disorders and nutrient deficiencies on immune function or susceptibility to disease.
