Increased Ammoniagenesis as a Determinant of Progressive Renal Injury

Karl A. Nath, Margaret K. Hostetter, Thomas H. Hostetter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

85 Scopus citations

Abstract

Loss of renal mass evokes increased ammoniagenesis in surviving nephrons, which in turn enables net acid excretion by the kidney. However, this compensatory increase in ammonia production in surviving nephrons triggers the alternative complement pathway, thereby instigating progressive tubulointerstitial injury. Ammonia has recently been identified as a stimulus to renal growth. Enhanced renal growth may serve as a forerunner for renal injury. The growth-promoting properties of ammonia may provide another mechanism through which augmented ammoniagenesis may underlie the enhancement of renal growth and injury observed in such models as the remnant kidney, hypokalemic nephropathy, high protein feeding, experimental diabetes nephropathy, and dietary deficiency of antioxidants.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)654-657
Number of pages4
JournalAmerican Journal of Kidney Diseases
Volume17
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1991

Keywords

  • Ammonia
  • growth
  • oxidants
  • tubulointerstitial injury

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Nephrology

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