title: Relationship between plasma ammonia concentration and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase isoenzyme activities in liver cirrhosis.
abstract: Ammonia is known to increase the secretion of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase (Hex) to the extracellular medium in cultured human fibroblasts and Hep G2 cells. We examined 35 patients with liver cirrhosis and the results revealed a significant increase for the plasma activities of total Hex and its isoenzymes Hex A and Hex B (p < 0.001). The partial correlations, with other biochemical markers of liver injury constant, between plasma ammonia concentration and the activity (r = 0.658) and the proportion in percentage of the Hex B isoenzyme (r = 0.692) were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The increased concentration of ammonia could explain, at least partially, an increased secretion of Hex B isoforms to the plasma in patients with liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio Central, Hospital Clinico Universitario, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Casal
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tutor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D054818:Hexosaminidase A; D054819:Hexosaminidase B; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D000641:Ammonia; D054818:Hexosaminidase A; D054819:Hexosaminidase B; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases