Reduced muscle amino acid uptake in sepsis and the effects in vitro of septic plasma and interleukin-1.

Inhibited amino acid transport in skeletal muscle during sepsis has been demonstrated previously. In the present study we investigated the effects in vitro of plasma from septic animals or fractions of septic plasma that contain solutes with a molecular weight less than 30,000 daltons or less than 2000 to 3000 daltons on amino acid transport in incubated rat soleus (SOL) muscles. The influence of interleukin-1 (IL-1), prostaglandin E2 (PEG2), and the "catabolic" hormones corticosterone, glucagon, and epinephrine on muscle amino acid uptake was also investigated. Amino acid transport was studied with 3H-alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB). Whole-septic plasma and the two low molecular-weight fractions of the septic plasma reduced muscle amino acid uptake by about 20%. IL-1 or PGE2 did not affect amino acid transport. When the catabolic hormones were added individually to incubated SOL muscles, no changes in AIB uptake were noticed. When glucagon or epinephrine was added in combination with corticosterone or when all three hormones were added together, amino acid transport was reduced by 10% to 15%. The results suggest that inhibited muscle amino acid uptake in sepsis is caused by a circulating factor(s) with a molecular weight less than 2000 to 3000 daltons. A synergistic action among the catabolic hormones may be one important factor for reduced muscle amino acid transport in sepsis.