title: Ammonia induces MK-801-sensitive nitration and phosphorylation of protein tyrosine residues in rat astrocytes.
abstract: Astrocytes play a key role in the pathogenesis of ammonia-induced neurotoxicity and hepatic encephalopathy. As shown here, ammonia induces protein tyrosine nitration in cultured rat astrocytes, which is sensitive to the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist MK-801. A similar pattern of nitrated proteins is produced by NMDA. Ammonia-induced tyrosine nitration depends on a rise in [Ca2+]i, IkB degradation, and NO synthase (iNOS) induction, which are prevented by MK-801 and the intracellular Ca2+ chelator 1,2-bis(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA-AM). Moreover, the increase in tyrosine nitration is blunted by L-NMMA, 1400W, uric acid, Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase/catalase treatment, and methionine-sulfoximine, which indicate the involvement of reactive nitrogen intermediates and intracellular glutamine accumulation. Such reactive nitrogen intermediates additionally mediate ammonia-induced phosphorylation of the MAP-kinases Erk-1/Erk-2 and p38MAPK. Among the proteins, which are tyrosine -nitrated by ammonia, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor, Erk-1, and glutamine synthetase are identified. Ammonia-induced nitration of glutamine synthetase is associated with a loss of enzymatic activity. Astroglial protein tyrosine nitration is found in brains from rats after acute ammonia-intoxication or after portacaval anastomosis, indicating the in vivo relevance of the present findings. The production of reactive nitrogen intermediates and protein tyrosine nitration may alter astrocyte function and contribute to ammonia neurotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectiology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Freimut
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schliess
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Görg
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Desjardins
authors.forename: Hans J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Bidmon
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Roger F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Butterworth
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zilles
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Häussinger
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase / Q000378:metabolism; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D019000:Phosphotyrosine / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D019000:Phosphotyrosine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C002744:3-nitrotyrosine; D014443:Tyrosine; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D000641:Ammonia; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase