Supplementation with Branched-Chain Amino Acids Induces Unexpected Deleterious Effects on Astrocyte Survival and Intracellular Metabolism with or without Hyperammonemia: A Preliminary In Vitro Study

Introduction. Ammonia is a key component in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) have been reported to improve the symptoms of HE induced by hyperammonemia; however, we recently reported that ammonia increases intracellular levels of BCAA and exerts toxic eff...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ting Wang, Kazuyuki Suzuki, Toshimi Chiba, Keisuke Kakisaka, Yasuhiro Takikawa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:International Journal of Hepatology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/7615126
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832546029005701120
author Ting Wang
Kazuyuki Suzuki
Toshimi Chiba
Keisuke Kakisaka
Yasuhiro Takikawa
author_facet Ting Wang
Kazuyuki Suzuki
Toshimi Chiba
Keisuke Kakisaka
Yasuhiro Takikawa
author_sort Ting Wang
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. Ammonia is a key component in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) have been reported to improve the symptoms of HE induced by hyperammonemia; however, we recently reported that ammonia increases intracellular levels of BCAA and exerts toxic effects on astrocytes. Objectives. This follow-up study was designed to confirm the direct effects of BCAA on human astrocytes and clarify their underlying mechanisms using metabolome analysis and evaluation of associated signaling. Methods. We performed cytotoxicity and cell proliferation tests on astrocytes following BCAA treatment with and without ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) and then compared the results with the effects of BCAA on hepatocytes and neurons. Subsequently, we used metabolomic analysis to investigate intracellular metabolite levels in astrocytes with and without BCAA treatment. Results. The astrocytes showed increased leakage of intracellular lactate dehydrogenase and reduced proliferation rate upon BCAA treatment. Interestingly, our analysis showed a BCAA-induced impairment of intracellular glycolysis/glyconeogenesis as well as amino acid and butyric acid metabolism. Furthermore, BCAA treatment was found to cause decreased levels of Glut-1 and phosphorylated GSK-3β and mTOR in astrocytes. Conclusions. Although further investigations of the effect of BCAA on human astrocytes with hyperammonemia are needed, our work demonstrates that BCAA supplementation has direct negative effects on astrocyte survival and intracellular metabolism.
format Article
id doaj-art-ead595f60fe9451ca7387fea69871ee0
institution Kabale University
issn 2090-3448
2090-3456
language English
publishDate 2021-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series International Journal of Hepatology
spelling doaj-art-ead595f60fe9451ca7387fea69871ee02025-02-03T07:24:04ZengWileyInternational Journal of Hepatology2090-34482090-34562021-01-01202110.1155/2021/76151267615126Supplementation with Branched-Chain Amino Acids Induces Unexpected Deleterious Effects on Astrocyte Survival and Intracellular Metabolism with or without Hyperammonemia: A Preliminary In Vitro StudyTing Wang0Kazuyuki Suzuki1Toshimi Chiba2Keisuke Kakisaka3Yasuhiro Takikawa4Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Iwate, JapanDivision of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Iwate, JapanDivision of Internal Medicine, Department of Oral Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Iwate, JapanDivision of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Iwate, JapanDivision of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Iwate, JapanIntroduction. Ammonia is a key component in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) have been reported to improve the symptoms of HE induced by hyperammonemia; however, we recently reported that ammonia increases intracellular levels of BCAA and exerts toxic effects on astrocytes. Objectives. This follow-up study was designed to confirm the direct effects of BCAA on human astrocytes and clarify their underlying mechanisms using metabolome analysis and evaluation of associated signaling. Methods. We performed cytotoxicity and cell proliferation tests on astrocytes following BCAA treatment with and without ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) and then compared the results with the effects of BCAA on hepatocytes and neurons. Subsequently, we used metabolomic analysis to investigate intracellular metabolite levels in astrocytes with and without BCAA treatment. Results. The astrocytes showed increased leakage of intracellular lactate dehydrogenase and reduced proliferation rate upon BCAA treatment. Interestingly, our analysis showed a BCAA-induced impairment of intracellular glycolysis/glyconeogenesis as well as amino acid and butyric acid metabolism. Furthermore, BCAA treatment was found to cause decreased levels of Glut-1 and phosphorylated GSK-3β and mTOR in astrocytes. Conclusions. Although further investigations of the effect of BCAA on human astrocytes with hyperammonemia are needed, our work demonstrates that BCAA supplementation has direct negative effects on astrocyte survival and intracellular metabolism.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/7615126
spellingShingle Ting Wang
Kazuyuki Suzuki
Toshimi Chiba
Keisuke Kakisaka
Yasuhiro Takikawa
Supplementation with Branched-Chain Amino Acids Induces Unexpected Deleterious Effects on Astrocyte Survival and Intracellular Metabolism with or without Hyperammonemia: A Preliminary In Vitro Study
International Journal of Hepatology
title Supplementation with Branched-Chain Amino Acids Induces Unexpected Deleterious Effects on Astrocyte Survival and Intracellular Metabolism with or without Hyperammonemia: A Preliminary In Vitro Study
title_full Supplementation with Branched-Chain Amino Acids Induces Unexpected Deleterious Effects on Astrocyte Survival and Intracellular Metabolism with or without Hyperammonemia: A Preliminary In Vitro Study
title_fullStr Supplementation with Branched-Chain Amino Acids Induces Unexpected Deleterious Effects on Astrocyte Survival and Intracellular Metabolism with or without Hyperammonemia: A Preliminary In Vitro Study
title_full_unstemmed Supplementation with Branched-Chain Amino Acids Induces Unexpected Deleterious Effects on Astrocyte Survival and Intracellular Metabolism with or without Hyperammonemia: A Preliminary In Vitro Study
title_short Supplementation with Branched-Chain Amino Acids Induces Unexpected Deleterious Effects on Astrocyte Survival and Intracellular Metabolism with or without Hyperammonemia: A Preliminary In Vitro Study
title_sort supplementation with branched chain amino acids induces unexpected deleterious effects on astrocyte survival and intracellular metabolism with or without hyperammonemia a preliminary in vitro study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/7615126
work_keys_str_mv AT tingwang supplementationwithbranchedchainaminoacidsinducesunexpecteddeleteriouseffectsonastrocytesurvivalandintracellularmetabolismwithorwithouthyperammonemiaapreliminaryinvitrostudy
AT kazuyukisuzuki supplementationwithbranchedchainaminoacidsinducesunexpecteddeleteriouseffectsonastrocytesurvivalandintracellularmetabolismwithorwithouthyperammonemiaapreliminaryinvitrostudy
AT toshimichiba supplementationwithbranchedchainaminoacidsinducesunexpecteddeleteriouseffectsonastrocytesurvivalandintracellularmetabolismwithorwithouthyperammonemiaapreliminaryinvitrostudy
AT keisukekakisaka supplementationwithbranchedchainaminoacidsinducesunexpecteddeleteriouseffectsonastrocytesurvivalandintracellularmetabolismwithorwithouthyperammonemiaapreliminaryinvitrostudy
AT yasuhirotakikawa supplementationwithbranchedchainaminoacidsinducesunexpecteddeleteriouseffectsonastrocytesurvivalandintracellularmetabolismwithorwithouthyperammonemiaapreliminaryinvitrostudy