Ammonia triggers ferroptosis in macrophages of yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco

Abstract

An in vitro experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of ammonia on the macrophages of yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco from a ferroptotic point of view. The fish macrophages were cultured with 0.00, 0.12, 0.23 and 0.46 mg/L ammonia for 24 h. The result showed that ammonia decreased the cell viability, reduced glutathione (GSH) contents and increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels of fish macrophages. Meanwhile, the mRNA levels of system and ferritin light chain1 (FTL1) were down-regulated when ammonia concentration was elevated up to 0.12 mg/L. Compared with control, the mRNA level of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) was up-regulated when ammonia was elevated up to 0.12 mg/L, but was down-regulated when ammonia reached 0.46 mg/L. Compared with control, the mRNA level of lipoxygenase (LOX)-12 was up-regulated when ammonia was elevated up to 0.12 mg/L, but was down-regulated when ammonia reached 0.23 mg/L, and the mRNA levels of LOX-5, LOX-15b and transferrin Receptor 1 (TFR1) were up-regulated when ammonia was elevated up to 0.12 mg/L, but was down-regulated when ammonia reached 0.23 mg/L. In conclusion, our study found that ammonia could trigger ferroptosis in the macrophage of fish.