Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Action for the Cardioprotective and Therapeutic Role of Creatine Phosphate

Creatine Supplementation Exacerbates Allergic Lung Inflammation and Airway Remodeling in Mice

“…Recent data have demonstrated that creatine has important metabolic functions such as on myocardial stability (15,16) and on normal cerebral development and function (17,18), as well as a role in the treatment of neuromuscular diseases (19,20), suggesting that creatine applications are not necessarily limited to sports practices. Creatine supplementation has also important anti-ischemic effects on the brain tissue, such as a decrease in infarct volume after transient focal cerebral ischemia in mice (21), and inhibition of apoptosis in the striatal ischemic core via a decrease in activation of caspase cell-death pathways (22).…”

“…Creatine supplementation has also important anti-ischemic effects on the brain tissue, such as a decrease in infarct volume after transient focal cerebral ischemia in mice (21), and inhibition of apoptosis in the striatal ischemic core via a decrease in activation of caspase cell-death pathways (22). Due to its effects on muscular performance, creatine has been administered to patients with chronic diseases, including heart diseases and myopathies (16,19). Some studies have also suggested a beneficial role of creatine supplementation on chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, improving health status and general well being (23,24).…”

Creatine Activates Airway Epithelium in Asthma

“…Alterations in airway epithelial structure and mucus synthesis have been demonstrated in humans and in experimental models of allergic asthma and manifest mainly as an increase in the number of epithelial secretory cells and mucus production, events that greatly contribute to airway obstruction [3,15,16,19]. Cytokines and chemokines released by epithelial cells are also involved in eosinophil and Th2 lymphocyte recruitment [19,23,24].…”

“…In sports medicine, Cr supplementation has the beneficial effect of decreasing muscular inflammation that results from overtraining and overuses [25], and in clinical practice, Cr is used in the treatment of certain neuromuscular diseases [8]. Cr has been also administered to patients with chronic diseases such as heart disease [24], myopathies [8], chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [10] and cystic fibrosis [2]. Although creatine supplementation usually induces an anti-inflammatory response, we recently demonstrated that Cr exacerbates allergic chronic lung inflammation [30], suggesting that creatine supplementation might have deleterious effects in individuals with allergic conditions such as asthma.…”

Creatine—A Dispensable Metabolite?

“…Classical experimental studies have included tissue-specific expression and subcellular location of CK isoforms, high resolution molecular structure-function relationships, and deletion of CK isoforms 5 . The CK/PCr system is both a buffer and a shuttle for energy-rich phosphates between the sites of ATP utilization and production, and the molecular and cellular basis for the cardioprotective action of PCr is well established 7 . Not surprisingly, there is also wide ranging evidence for the beneficial effects of creatine supplementation, especially in the elderly 8 , and in patients with muscle wasting disease 9 .…”