Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Urea Cycle01:23

Urea Cycle

43.9K
The urea cycle describes how liver cells convert ammonia to urea. Ammonia is a toxic waste product of protein catabolism. Land animals must convert ammonia into the less toxic urea which can be safely eliminated by the kidneys through urine. Marine animals excrete ammonia directly, and the surrounding water dilutes the ammonia to safe levels.
43.9K
Hepatic Encephalopathy01:29

Hepatic Encephalopathy

33
DefinitionHepatic encephalopathy is a reversible neurologic syndrome that results from advanced liver dysfunction or portosystemic shunting. It leads to disturbances in cognition, behavior, and motor function due to the brain’s exposure to gut-derived toxins that the liver fails to detoxify.EtiologyThis condition develops either in the setting of acute fulminant hepatitis or progressively during chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Portosystemic...
33
B Cell Activation and Differentiation01:24

B Cell Activation and Differentiation

14.3K
The adaptive immune response, a sophisticated defense mechanism, relies on the activation and differentiation of B lymphocytes, or B cells. These processes enable our bodies to mount a tailored response against specific pathogens such as bacteria, free virus particles, toxins, and parasites.
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
14.3K
Antigen Presenting Cells01:22

Antigen Presenting Cells

3.7K
The immune system is a complex network of cells and molecules that protects the body from foreign invaders. T cells, a type of white blood cell, play a crucial role in this process. They recognize and attack foreign substances, such as pathogens, that enter the body.
T cells require the help of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which process foreign antigens into smaller fragments that can be recognized by T cells. These APCs are highly specialized cells that efficiently internalize antigens...
3.7K
Antigen Processing Pathways01:31

Antigen Processing Pathways

2.9K
MHC molecules are key players in the immune response, enabling T cells to recognize and respond to specific antigens. They are present on the surface of all nucleated cells in the body and are instrumental in presenting antigens to T cells and activating them. T cells recognize the MHC-antigen complex and initiate an immune response. MHC class I and MHC class II are two main types of MHC molecules, each associated with a distinct antigen processing pathway.
MHC Class I: Presenting Endogenous...
2.9K
Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity01:26

Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity

1.7K
An antigen is any substance the immune system identifies as foreign and potentially harmful to the body, prompting an immune response. Antigens have two functional properties: immunogenicity and reactivity. Immunogenicity is the ability of an antigen to stimulate a specific immune response. At the same time, reactivity describes the antigen's ability to react with the cells and antibodies produced in response to it.
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and...
1.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Efficacy of previous failure on subsequent procedural outcomes of chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Pakistan journal of medical sciences·2026
Same author

Research on predicting risk factors for re-bleeding in the acute phase of intracerebral hemorrhage using machine learning algorithms.

Frontiers in medicine·2026
Same author

Construction of a high-performance electrochemical sensor based on intrinsically conductive Co-HHTQ-MOF for imidacloprid detection.

Mikrochimica acta·2026
Same author

Extended antibiotic prophylaxis beyond 24 h after pancreatic surgery: prevalence and risk factors.

Frontiers in public health·2026
Same author

Dearomative Diazo [1,2]-Wittig Rearrangement/[1,2]-Migration Cascade: Synthesis of Quaternary 3-Aminooxindoles.

Organic letters·2026
Same author

Multi-regional transcriptomics reveals robust consensus subtypes beyond tumor heterogeneity of breast cancer.

Translational oncology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Characterization of Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells by Imaging Flow Cytometry: A Comparison between Two Monocyte Isolation Protocols
08:31

Characterization of Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells by Imaging Flow Cytometry: A Comparison between Two Monocyte Isolation Protocols

Published on: October 18, 2016

13.3K

Ammonia drives dendritic cells into dysfunction.

Can Luo1, Guobo Shen1, Ning Liu1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan 610041, People's Republic of China;

Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|June 27, 2014
PubMed
Summary

High ammonia levels impair dendritic cells (DCs), crucial immune cells. This dysfunction contributes to the compromised immunity seen in cirrhosis and tumor patients, impacting overall health.

More Related Videos

Generation of Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells from Whole Blood
07:35

Generation of Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells from Whole Blood

Published on: December 24, 2016

19.8K
Development and Functional Characterization of Murine Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells
09:51

Development and Functional Characterization of Murine Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells

Published on: May 18, 2018

10.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Characterization of Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells by Imaging Flow Cytometry: A Comparison between Two Monocyte Isolation Protocols
08:31

Characterization of Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells by Imaging Flow Cytometry: A Comparison between Two Monocyte Isolation Protocols

Published on: October 18, 2016

13.3K
Generation of Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells from Whole Blood
07:35

Generation of Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells from Whole Blood

Published on: December 24, 2016

19.8K
Development and Functional Characterization of Murine Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells
09:51

Development and Functional Characterization of Murine Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells

Published on: May 18, 2018

10.3K

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Elevated ammonia levels are common in patients with cirrhosis or tumors.
  • These conditions are associated with a compromised immune system.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of ammonia on dendritic cells (DCs), key immune cells.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms behind ammonia-induced DC dysfunction and its role in disease.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro studies exposing DCs to ammonia.
  • In vivo studies using ammonium chloride-loaded mice and a murine colon carcinoma model.
  • Assessment of DC function, including phagocytosis and lymphocyte stimulation, as well as cellular damage.

Main Results:

  • Ammonia significantly reduced DC count, phagocytosis, and lymphocyte stimulation.
  • Ammonia induced DC swelling, increased reactive oxygen species, and caused mitochondrial damage.
  • Ammonia impaired DC function in vivo, leading to a weakened immune response to vaccination and contributing to tumor growth.

Conclusions:

  • Ammonia directly drives dendritic cell dysfunction.
  • This DC dysfunction contributes to the immunocompromised state observed in patients with cirrhosis and tumors.
  • Ammonia's role in immune regulation warrants further investigation for therapeutic strategies.