Disturbance of hepatocyte growth and metabolism in a hyperammonemia microenvironment.

Background: We found through previous research that hyperammonemia can cause secondary liver damage. However, whether hepatocytes are target cells of ammonia toxicity and whether hyperammonemia affects hepatocyte metabolism remain unknown.
Aims: The purpose of the current study is to examine whether the hepatocyte is a specific target cell of ammonia toxicity and whether hyperammonemia can interfere with hepatocyte metabolism.
Methods: Cell viability and apoptosis were analyzed in primary hepatocytes and other cells that had been exposed to ammonium chloride. Western blotting was adopted to examine the expression of proteins related to ammonia transport. We also established a metabolomics method based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to understand the characteristics of the hepatocyte metabolic spectrum in a hyperammonemia microenvironment, to screen and identify differential metabolites, and to determine the differential metabolic pathway. Different technologies were used to verify the differential metabolic pathways.
Results: Hepatocytes are target cells of ammonia toxicity. The mechanism is related to the ammonia transporter. Hyperammonemia interferes with hepatocyte metabolism, which leads to TCA cycle, urea cycle, and RNA synthesis disorder.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates that hepatocyte growth and metabolism are disturbed in a hyperammonemia microenvironment, which further deteriorates hepatocyte function.
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