l-Arg plays a central role in the normal function of several organ systems including the
immune system. l-Arg can be depleted by arginase I produced by macrophages and
hepatocytes in several disease states such as trauma and sepsis and following liver
transplantation. The decrease inl-Arg levels induces a profound decrease in T cell function
through mechanisms that have remained unclear. The data presented here demonstrate that
Jurkat T cells cultured in medium withoutl-Arg (l-Arg-free RPMI) have a rapid decrease in the …