Ammonia and cardiovascular diseases

Sergey Syrov, XX2 century

A study conducted at the University of Missouri School of Medicine in Columbia University (University of Missouri School of Medicine) has shown that ammonia can play an important role in maintaining the health of the cardiovascular system. Researchers report that a non–toxic amount of this gas can help prevent coronary artery disease - the formation of plaques leading to the development of coronary insufficiency and coronary heart disease. Article by Liu et al. Ammonium promotes endothelial cell survival via the heme oxygenase-1-mediated release of carbon monoxide published in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine.

"Endothelial cells are the inner layer of blood vessels," says William Durante, professor of the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology at the University of Missouri, lead author of the study. – Damage or loss of these cells leads to the appearance of deposits in the arteries and eventually cardiovascular diseases. Increasing the production of a certain protein, hemoxygenase–1 (HO-1), is known to help protect endothelial cells from damage, thereby preventing cardiovascular diseases. In our study, we wanted to understand how HO-1 protects these cells and identify a natural way to increase the production of this protein."

Ammonia is a colorless gas with a pungent odor, it is produced in the body during normal metabolism and is associated with the production of hemoxygenase-1. Endothelial cells can produce significant amounts of ammonia, but the biological significance of this gas for these cells has not been determined. The researchers studied the relationship of ammonia and HO-1 on human cell culture, as well as on an animal (mouse) model.

"By introducing measurable doses of ammonia into our models for one day or one week, we saw a 300 percent increase in HO-1 expression," Durante said. "We also learned that ammonia does trigger a number of events that ultimately protect the vessels."

During the work, it was revealed that ammonia causes oxidative stress, which increases the production of HO-1. A by–product of this production is carbon monoxide, which contributes to the survival of endothelial cells.

"It's very interesting that ammonia, a potentially toxic gas, benefits the vascular system in our models," Durante says. "Oddly enough, this is achieved by creating carbon monoxide, another potentially toxic gas."

Figure from the article by Liu et al. – VM.

Although the method of delivering ammonia into the body of mice by adding it to drinking water did not harm the mice, it is not very practical as a means of prevention.

"Ammonia is processed in the liver and eventually excreted from the body through urine," Durante said. "However, direct use of ammonia can lead to its accumulation to toxic levels, especially in those with weakened liver."

To cause a natural increase in ammonia levels in the body, the researchers used the amino acid glutamine. Glutamine is an inexpensive and affordable dietary supplement.

"In endothelial cells, glutamine is metabolized to ammonia," says Durante. "Using glutamine in our study, we were able to provoke an increase in ammonia production, which also increased the level of HO–1, without the risk of poisoning."

The next step of the research team will be preliminary clinical trials to test the effectiveness of glutamine in a mouse model of coronary artery disease.

"Of course, more research is needed," Durante said. – But, although our study was conducted only on mice and cell cultures, the results are encouraging. If further research shows that we can control the mechanism that triggers natural protection against cardiovascular diseases, it may be possible to develop new protocols for the treatment of coronary heart disease."

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  16.03.2017