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Hyperammonemia induces programmed liver cell death

Science Advances, vol. 11, pp. eado1648

Abstract

Hyperammonemia is common in liver cirrhosis and causally associated with hepatic encephalopathy development. Little is known about its hepatotoxic effects, which we aimed to characterize in this study. In a mouse model of chronic hyperammonemia without preexisting liver disease, we observed development of liver fibrogenesis and necroptotic cell death. Hyperammonemia also induced dysregulation of its main metabolic pathway, the urea cycle, as reflected by down-regulation of urea cycle enzyme protein expression and accumulation of its metabolites. Inhibition of receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) and its upstream inducer Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) protected against liver injury and further hyperammonemia. In clinically relevant rodent models of hyperammonemia (genetic ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency and bile duct ligation-induced cirrhosis), TLR4 inhibition reduced circulating ammonia. In conclusion, hyperammonemia induces liver fibrogenesis and RIPK1-mediated cell death, which is associated with urea cycle dysfunction. Inhibition of RIPK1 and TLR4 protects against hyperammonemia-induced liver injury and are potential therapeutic targets for hyperammonemia and chronic liver disease progression.

Authors 24

  1. Leiden University Medical Center · The Royal Free Hospital · University College London

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands

    Liver Failure Group, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, UK

  2. The Royal Free Hospital · University College London · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

    Affiliation as printed

    Liver Failure Group, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, UK

    Medical Department, Division of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charite - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

  3. The Royal Free Hospital · University College London

    Affiliation as printed

    Liver Failure Group, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, UK

  4. Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

    Affiliation as printed

    Medical Department, Division of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charite - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

  5. Boehringer Ingelheim (Germany) · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of CardioMetabolic Disease Research, Boehringer Ingelheim, Biberach, Germany

    Medical Department, Division of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charite - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

  6. The Royal Free Hospital · Nanfang Hospital · University College London · Southern Medical University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Hepatology Unit and Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China

    Liver Failure Group, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, UK

  7. Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

  8. Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

  9. The Royal Free Hospital

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Cellular Pathology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK

    The Sheila Sherlock Liver Centre, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK

  10. The Royal Free Hospital · University College London

    Affiliation as printed

    Liver Failure Group, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, UK

  11. Maastricht University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Surgery, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands

  12. European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure

    Affiliation as printed

    European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure, Barcelona, Spain

  13. Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives · Université Paris-Saclay · Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement · CEA Paris-Saclay · MetaboHUB · Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé

    Affiliation as printed

    Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), MetaboHUB-IDF, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France

  14. Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives · Université Paris-Saclay · Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement · CEA Paris-Saclay · MetaboHUB · Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé

    Affiliation as printed

    Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), MetaboHUB-IDF, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France

  15. European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure · Hospital Clínic de Barcelona · Consorci Institut D'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi I Sunyer · Universitat de Barcelona

    Affiliation as printed

    European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure, Barcelona, Spain

    Hospital Clínic-IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

  16. Inserm · Université Paris Cité · Hôpital Beaujon · Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris · European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure · Centre de Recherche sur l'Inflammation

    Affiliation as printed

    European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure, Barcelona, Spain

    Inserm and Université de Paris, Centre de Recherche sur l’Inflammation (CRI), UMRS1149 Paris, France

    Service d’Hépatologie, Hôpital Beaujon, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Clichy, France

  17. European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure

    Affiliation as printed

    European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure, Barcelona, Spain

  18. Leiden University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands

  19. The Royal Free Hospital · Foundation for Liver Research · University College London

    Affiliation as printed

    Liver Failure Group, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, UK

    The Roger Williams Institute of Hepatology, Foundation for Liver Research, London, UK

  20. Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives · Université Paris-Saclay · Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement · CEA Paris-Saclay · MetaboHUB · Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé

    Affiliation as printed

    Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), MetaboHUB-IDF, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France

  21. TU Dortmund University · Universitätsklinikum Aachen · Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors · RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

    IFADO, Department of Toxicology, TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany

  22. Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives · Université Paris-Saclay · Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement · CEA Paris-Saclay · MetaboHUB · Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé

    Affiliation as printed

    Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), MetaboHUB-IDF, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France

  23. The Royal Free Hospital · University College London

    Affiliation as printed

    Liver Failure Group, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, UK

  24. Rajiv Jalan corresponding

    The Royal Free Hospital · European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure · University College London

    Affiliation as printed

    European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure, Barcelona, Spain

    Liver Failure Group, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, UK

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References 65