A preliminary pharmacokinetic study of the enantiomers of the terfenadine acid metabolite in humans

A stereoselective and sensitive achiral/chiral method for the determination of terfenadine acid metabolite in human plasma was developed. The metabolite was separated and quantitated using an achiral chromatographic procedure with a cyano column. The mobile phase was 1 mM sodium acetate buffer (pH 4.0) and acetonitrile (25:75% v/v) at a flow rate of 2 ml/min, at ambient temperature. The stereospecific resolution was accomplished using a chiral-AGP column and a mobile phase consisting of sodium acetate (0.01 M): methanol (98.7:1.3% v/v), and 20 mM di-n-butylamine at a flow rate of 1.2 ml/min. The column temperature was maintained at 32°C. The eluent was monitored at 230 nm (excitation) and 300 nm (emission) with a cut-off filter at 270 nm. This assay was used for a pharmacokinetic study in five subjects after administration of a single dose of 60 mg of terfenadine. The t_½ values of the two enantiomers were similar, but the AUC values of the (+)-enantiomer were 2.05–2.35 times higher than those of (?)-enantiomer. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

A comparison of the inhibition of deacetylase in primary cultures of rat and human hepatocytes effecting metabolism and DNA-binding of 2-acetylaminofluorene

The metabolism of 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) in primary cultures of rat and human hepatocytes was investigated to determine if the activation of this well-studied chemical carcinogen proceeds via similar routes of metabolism between species. The total level of AAF metabolite(s) bound to hepatocellular DNA was determined in the presence of deacetylase inhibitors, diethyl(p-nitrophenyl) phosphate (paraoxon) or bis(p-nitrophenyl) phosphate (BPNPP). These compounds are known to inhibit deacetylase and to decrease the mutagenicity of AAF. Experiments with rat and human hepatocytes demonstrated inhibition in the deacetylation of AAF (5×10⁻⁴ M) with paraoxon or BPNPP. The BPNPP (5×10⁻⁴ M inhibited 99% of the AF formation in the human hepatocytes and 88% inhibition in the rat hepatocytes. Paraoxon at 10⁻⁴ M demonstrated a 98% inhibition of deacetylation with humans and a 92% inhibition with rats. The rat hepatocytes also showed a 53% decrease in DNA binding in the presence of paraoxon. In contrast with human hepatocytes, while paraoxon decreased the AF metabolite by > 97%, there was no change in total DNA binding.     

Viability and drug metabolism capacity of alginate-entrapped hepatocytes after cryopreservation

In the present study we evaluated viability and detoxifying enzyme capacity of cryopreserved hepatocytes from various species, including man, immobilized in calcium alginate gels. Ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase, phenacetin deethylase, pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase, tolbutamide hydroxylase, S-mephenytoin hydroxylase, dextromethorphan demethylase, and nifedipine oxidation corresponding to the major cytochromes P450 (CYP) involved in xenobiotic metabolism as well as whole glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity were measured using specific substrates and after exposure or not to prototypical inducers. After deep-freeze storage, viability of immobilized hepatocytes was only slightly reduced and most CYP-related monooxygenase activities were well preserved, being expressed at levels close to those measured in unfrozen hepatocyte monolayers. By contrast, total GST activity was decreased by around 50%. However, as did CYP1A- and 3A-related enzymes, rat GST remained capable of responding to prototypical inducers. The fold increases were comparable in unfrozen and frozen immobilized hepatocytes and in unfrozen hepatocyte monolayers. The duration of storage, even when exceeding one year, did not affect viability and functions. In conclusion, after cryopreservation, alginate-entrapped hepatocytes remain highly viable and capable of expressing most detoxifying enzymes at levels close to those expressed in corresponding unfrozen hepatocyte monolayers and of responding to prototypical inducers. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Human hepatocytes: isolation, cryopreservation and applications in drug development

The recent developments in the isolation, culturing, and cryopreservation of human hepatocytes, and the application of the cells in drug development are reviewed. Recent advances include the improvement of cryopreservation procedures to allow cell attachment, thereby extending the use of the cells to assays that requires prolong culturing such as enzyme induction studies. Applications of human hepatocytes in drug development include the evaluation of metabolic stability, metabolite profiling and identification, drug-drug interaction potential, and hepatotoxic potential. The use of intact human hepatocytes, because of the complete, undisrupted metabolic pathways and cofactors, allows the development of data more relevant to humans in vivo than tissue fractions such as human liver microsomes. Incorporation of key in vivo factors with the intact hepatocytes in vitro may help predictive human in vivo drug properties. For instance, evaluation of drug metabolism and drug-drug interactions with intact human hepatocytes in 100% human serum may eliminate the need to determine in vivo intracellular concentrations for the extrapolation of in vitro data to in vivo. Co-culturing of hepatocytes and nonhepatic primary cells from other organs in the integrated discrete multiple organ co-culture (IdMOC) may allow the evaluation of multiple organ interactions in drug metabolism and drug toxicity. In conclusion, human hepatocytes represent a critical experimental model for drug development, allowing early evaluation of human drug properties to guide the design and selection of drug candidates with a high probability of clinical success.     

Preservation of hepatic phenotype in lentiviral-transduced primary human hepatocytes

Lentiviral vectors effectively transduce both dividing and non-dividing cells and stably integrate into the genome of the host cell. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of a lentiviral system for genetic modulation of primary human hepatocyte cultures. Infection with GFP-expressing lentivectors shows that Huh7 and HepG2 cell lines, as well as primary cultures of human hepatocytes, are efficiently transduced by lentiviral vectors. Real-time RT-PCR analyses demonstrate that infection with lentivectors does not alter hepatic hallmarks such as the expression of the nuclear receptors CAR, PXR, RXR alpha, or HNF4 alpha, or expression of the secretory protein, albumin. Additionally, infected hepatocytes retain the capacity for CYP3A4 induction in response to treatment with phenobarbital, a uniquely sensitive indicator of hepatic differentiation status. Lentivectors may be used for both over-expression and knockdown analyses in primary hepatocytes, as demonstrated in this study by >200-fold CAR over-expression and knockdown of CAR to less than 40% of endogenous levels, with corresponding effects on CYP2B6 expression. In summary, lentiviral vectors provide a novel methodology by which primary human hepatocytes may be stably genetically manipulated, with minimal effects on the differentiated hepatic phenotype. These approaches offer considerable advantage over current methodologies, providing a valuable alternative for use in pharmacological and toxicological investigations involving primary human hepatocyte models and potentially for cell-based therapeutics to treat hepatic dysfunction in vivo.     

Effect of matrine on primary human hepatocytes in vitro

Matrine is a bioactive component of the traditional Chinese medical herb Sophora flavescens that has been used in China to treat various kinds of diseases including virus hepatitis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its hepatoprotective effects remains elusive. In the present study, primary human hepatocytes were employed to elucidate the protective effects and molecular mechanisms of matrine. We observed that low concentrations of matrine had no significant impact on albumin secretion, but high concentrations (>140 mg/L) of matrine decreased the albumin secretion in hepatocytes. Western blot data indicated that matrine at 140 mg/L at 72 h induced protein expression of CYP2A6, CYP2B6 and CYP3A4. Furthermore, high concentrations of matrine reduced LDH and AST levels and were cytotoxic to hepatocytes, leading to a decreased cell viability and total protein amount. Moreover, low concentrations of matrine, enhanced the ECOD activity and decreased the level of NO₂⁻ induced by cytokines in human hepatocytes. Taken together, the present study sheds novel light on the molecular mechanisms of matrine and potential application of matrine in hepatic diseases.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10616-013-9680-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Gene transfer in primary cultures of human hepatocytes

Summary Using liposomes as the mediator of DNA transfer, we were successful in the transfection of human hepatocytes isolated from surgical samples with an E. coli β-galactosidase gene (β-gal). A comparison of transfection efficiency showed that of the four promoters used, cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter yielded higher transfection efficiencies than Rous sarcoma virus (RSV), Simian virus-40 (SV-40) and human alpha-l antitrypsin (AAT) promoters. These studies represent the first report on the successful transfection of primary cultures of human hepatocytes.     

Effects of antibiotics on protein synthesis and degradation in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes

Summary In primary hepatocyte cultures, maintained in a protein-free medium, streptomycin, penicillin, and Garamycin (gentamicin) all inhibited protein synthesis at concentrations above 0.1 mM. Some inhibition was also observed with the fungicide Mycostatin at 100 U/ml. Hepatocytic protein degradation was markedly inhibited by penicillin at concentrations above 0.1 mM, whereas streptomycin and Garamycin only showed slight inhibition at concentrations in excess of 1 mM. None of the antibiotics had any detectable effect on the structural integrity (viability) of the cells. The work was supported by grants from The Norwegian Cancer Society and The Norwegian Council for Science and the Humanities     

Overview: Evaluation of metabolism-based drug toxicity in drug development

Drug metabolism can be a key determinant of drug toxicity. A nontoxic parent drug may be biotransformed by drug metabolizing enzymes to toxic metabolites (metabolic activation). Conversely, a toxic drug may be biotransformed to nontoxic metabolites (detoxification). The approaches to evaluate metabolism-based drug toxicity include the identification of toxic metabolites and the evaluation of toxicity in metabolically competent and metabolically compromised systems. A clear understanding of the role of drug metabolism in toxicity can aid the identification of risk factors that may potentiate drug toxicity, and may provide key information for the development of safe drugs.     

Metabolic enantiomeric interactions: the inhibition of human (S)-warfarin-7-hydroxylase by (R)-warfarin

Inhibition of the metabolism of (S)-warfarin, the more pharmacologically active enantiomer of the racemic drug, by (R)-warfarin was investigated in microsomes obtained from three human livers. In each case the production of both (S)-6- and (S)-7-hydroxywarfarin was found to be competitively inhibited by (R)-warfarin. The KiS for inhibition of (S)-6- and (S)-7-hydroxylation by (R)-warfarin ranged from 7.0 to 8.4 microM and from 6.0 to 6.9 microM, respectively, while the KmS for the 6- and 7-hydroxylation of (S)-warfarin ranged from 3.6 to 3.8 microM and from 3.3 to 3.9 microM, respectively. In contrast, except for the 4'-hydroxylation pathway (S)-warfarin was found to be a weak inhibitor of the metabolism of (R)-warfarin. Possible implications of these findings include the following: (1) the kinetic parameters defining the interactions of two enantiomers of a racemic drug with the cytochrome P-450s or other macromolecular systems in the living organism can only be properly defined from experiments with the pure enantiomers, (2) an enantiomer of a racemic drug may contribute significantly to biological effect not by its inherent activity but by altering the pharmacokinetics of the eutomer, and (3) enantiomeric interactions are not easily detected unless directly sought and may be relatively common.     

Synthesis and secretion of lipoproteins by human hepatocytes in culture

Summary Confluent monolayers of normal human hepatocytes obtained by collagenase perfusion of liver pragments were incubated in a serum-free medium. Intracellular apolipoproteins apo AI, apo C, apo B, and apo E were detected between Day 1 and Day 6 of the culture by immunoenzymatic staining using polyclonal antibodies directed against these apoproteins and monoclonal antibodies directed against both forms of apo B (B100 and B48). Translation of mRNA isolated from these hepatocytes in an acellular system revealed that apo AI and apo E were synthesized as the precusor forms of mature plasma apo AI and apo E. Three lipoprotein fractions corresponding to the density of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were isolated from the medium at Day 5 of culture and examined by electron microscopy after negative staining. VLDL and LDL particles are similar in size and shape to plasma lipoproteins; spherical HDL are larger than normal plasma particles isolated at the same density. Their protein represented 44, 19.5, and 36.5% respectively, of the total lipoprotein protein. The secretion rate of VLDL protein corresponded to that measured in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. After incorporation of [³H]glycerol, more than 92% of the [³H]triglyceride secreted into the medium was recovered in the VLDL fraction. These results demonstrate that primary cultures of normal human hepatocytes are able to synthesize and secrete lipoproteins and thus could be a useful model to study lipoprotein metabolism in human liver.     

Species-specific toxicity of diclofenac and troglitazone in primary human and rat hepatocytes

Troglitazone was withdrawn from the market shortly after approval for diabetes type II therapy because of strong hepatotoxic effects in man that could not be predicted from regulatory animal or in vitro studies. Another pharmaceutical that is regularly associated with adverse effects on the liver, sometimes leading to acute liver failure, is the widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac. Since the underlying molecular mechanisms are not yet fully known, we treated primary rat and human hepatocyte monolayer cultures for 24 h with different doses of troglitazone and diclofenac to analyze species differences related to toxicity in vitro. Metformin an antidiabetic drug which does not cause severe adverse reactions served as negative control. Human hepatocytes showed a higher sensitivity to troglitazone than rat hepatocytes, while diclofenac-induced cytotoxicity at fairly similar concentrations. By co-treatment with specific inhibitors for cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C and CYP3A - the major phase I enzymes involved in liver xenobiotic metabolism - we could confirm the prominent role of CYP3A in the bioactivation of troglitazone as well as the role of CYP3A and CYP2C in the activation of diclofenac. Inhibition of these enzymes increased the viability of treated cells in both species. Furthermore, we were able to demonstrate marked species differences in gene expression patterns of troglitazone treated rat and human hepatocytes. In contrast to rat hepatocytes, human cells showed distinct upregulation of various CYPs, regulators of xenobiotic metabolism and marker genes for oxidative stress. In contrast, gene expression alterations in rat and human hepatocytes treated with Diclofenac were rather similar. Altogether our study showed that species-specific effects as well as indications for the mode of action of compounds can be addressed by the use of primary hepatocyte cultures from various species in combination with gene expression profiling.     

Metabolism Comparative Cytotoxicity Assay (MCCA) and Cytotoxic Metabolic Pathway Identification Assay (CMPIA) with cryopreserved human hepatocytes for the evaluation of metabolism-based cytotoxicity in vitro: proof-of-concept study with aflatoxin B1

Recently, we have improved the cryopreservation procedures for human hepatocytes, leading to cells that can be cultured after thawing (“plateable” cryopreserved human hepatocytes). The ability to culture cryopreserved human hepatocytes allows application of the cells for prolonged incubations such as long-term (days) metabolism studies, enzyme induction studies, and cytotoxicity studies. We report here the application of the plateable cryopreserved human hepatocytes to evaluate the relationship between xenobiotic metabolism and toxicity. Two assays were developed: The Metabolism Comparative Cytotoxicity Assay (MCCA) and the Cytotoxic Metabolic Pathway Identification Assay (CMPIA). The MCCA was designed for the initial identification of the role of metabolism in cytotoxicity by comparing the cytotoxic potential of a toxicant in a metabolically competent (primary human hepatocytes) and a metabolically incompetent (Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)) cell type, as well as the evaluation of the role of P450 metabolism by comparing the cytotoxicity of the toxicant in question in human hepatocytes in the presence and absence of a nonspecific, irreversible P450 inhibitor, 1-aminobenzotriazole (ABT). The CMPIA was designed for the identification of the P450 isoforms involved in metabolic activation via the evaluation of the cytotoxicity of the toxicant in the presence and absence of isoform-selective P450 inhibitors. Results of a proof-of-concept study with the MCCA and CMPIA with a known hepatotoxicant, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), are reported. AFB1 is known to require P450 metabolism for its toxicity. In the MCCA, AFB1 was found to have significantly higher cytotoxicity in human hepatocytes than CHO cells, therefore confirming its requirement for biotransformation to be toxic. ABT was found to effectively attenuate AFB1 cytotoxicity, confirming that P450 metabolism was involved in its metabolic activation. In the CMPIA, AFB1 cytotoxicity was found to be attenuated by ketoconazole and diethyldithiocarbamate, but not by furafylline, quinidine, and sulfaphenazole. Results with the isoform-selective inhibitors suggest that the isoforms inhibited by ketoconazole (mainly CYP3A4) and diethyldithiocarbamate (mainly CYP2A6, and CYP2E1), but not the isoforms inhibited by furafylline (mainly CYP1A2), sulfaphenazole (mainly CYP2C9) and quinidine (mainly CYP2D6) are involved in the metabolic activation of AFB1. This proof-of-concept study suggests that MCCA and CMPIA with cryopreserved human hepatocytes are potentially useful for the evaluation of the relationship between human xenobiotic metabolism and toxicity.     

The effect of the trichloroethylene metabolites trichloroacetate and dichloroacetate on peroxisome proliferation and DNA synthesis in cultured human hepatocytes

Dichloroacetate (DCA) and trichloroacetate (TCA) are metabolites of the environmental contaminant trichloroethylene (TCE) that are thought to be responsible for its hepatocarcinogenicity in B6C3F₁ mice. TCA and DCA induce peroxisomal proliferation and are mitogenic in rodent liver. The susceptibility of humans to TCA- and DCA-induced hepatocarcinogenesis is unknown. The current studies were aimed at using both primary and long-term human hepatocyte cultures to study the effects of TCA, DCA, and a potent peroxisome proliferator, WY-14,643, on peroxisomal activity and DNA synthesis in human hepatocytes. Peroxisome proliferation, as assessed by palmitoyl-CoA oxidation activity, was below the limit of detection in all human cell lines tested. However, the human cell lines did display small but significant increases in CYP450 4A11 levels following treatment with WY-14,643 (0.1 mmol/L), indicting that the CYP 4A11 gene may be regulated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α in humans. Similarly to their effect in rodent hepatocyte cultures, TCA and DCA were not complete mitogens in human hepatocyte cultures. In fact, DNA synthesis tended to be significantly decreased following treatment of the cells with WY-14,643, TCA, or DCA. In contrast to rodent hepatocyte responses, TCA and DCA did not increase palmitoyl-CoA oxidation and caused a decrease in DNA synthesis in human hepatocyte cultures, suggesting that humans may not be susceptible to TCA- and DCA-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Serum-free collagen sandwich cultures of adult rat hepatocytes maintain liver-like properties long term: A valuable model for in vitro toxicity and drug-drug interaction studies

Cultures of primary hepatocytes from various species, including human, are used in several applications during pre-clinical drug development. Their use is however limited by cell survival and conservation of liver-specific functions in vitro. The differentiation status of hepatocytes in culture strongly depends on medium formulation and the extracellular matrix environment. We incubated primary rat hepatocytes for 10 days on collagen monolayer and in collagen sandwich cultures with or without serum. Restoration of polygonal cell shape and formation of functional bile canaliculi-like structures was stable only in serum-free sandwich cultures. Variations in general cell viability, as judged by the cellular ATP content, LDH release or apoptosis, were less pronounced between alternative cultures. The intracellular glutathione content was preserved close to in vivo levels especially in serum-free sandwich cultures. Basal activities of cytochrome P450 enzymes (P450) varied strongly between cultures. There was a minor effect on CYP1A but CYP2B activity was only detectable in the serum-free sandwich culture after 3 days and beyond. CYP2C activity was slightly elevated in both sandwich cultures, whereas CYP3A showed increased levels in both serum-free cultures. Inducibility of these P450s was fully maintained over time in serum-free collagen sandwich only. Gene expression was largely constant over time in serum-free sandwich cultures that was closest to liver. This liver-like property was supported by protein profiling results. Taken together, the serum-free collagen sandwich culture of primary rat hepatocytes maintained liver-like features over 10 days and is therefore a suitable model for long-term toxicity and drug-drug interaction studies.     

Culture of human hepatocytes from small surgical liver biopsies. Biochemical characterization and comparison with in vivo

Summary High yields of human hepatocytes (up to 23×10⁶ viable cells/g) were obtained from small surgical liver biopsies (1 to 3 g) by a two-step collagenase microperfusion method. Cell viability was about 95%, attachment efficiency of hepatocytes seeded on fibronectin-coated plates was 80% within 1 h after plating, and cells survived for about 2 wk in serum-free Ham’s F12 containing 0.2% bovine serum albumin, 10⁻⁸ M insulin, and 10⁻⁸ M dexamethasone. To evaluate the metabolism of human hepatocytes in serum-free conditions, we measured their most characteristic biochemical functions and compared them to those reported for human liver. After 24 h in culture, glycogen content was 1250±177 nmol glucose/mg cell protein and remained stable for several days. Gluconeogenesis from lactate in hormone-free media was (3.50±0.17 nmol glucose·mg⁻¹·min⁻¹) similar to that reported for human liver. Insulin at 10⁻⁸ M activated glycolysis (×1.40) and glycogenesis (×1.34), and glucagon at 10⁻⁹ M stimulated gluconeogenesis (×1.35) and glycogenolysis (×2.18). Human hepatocytes synthesized albumin, transferrin, fibrinogen, α₁-antitrypsin, α₁-antichymotrypsin, α₁-acid glycoprotein, haptoglobin, α₂-macroglobulin, and plasma fibronectin and excreted them to the culture medium. Maximum protein synthesis was stimulated by 10⁻⁹ M dexamethasone. Basal urea synthesis oscillated between 2.5 and 3.5 nmol·mg⁻¹ cell protein·min⁻¹, about 5 times the value estimated for human liver. Cytochrome P-450 decreased in culture but it was still 20% of freshly isolated hepatocytes by Day 5 in culture. In addition, ethoxycumarin-O-deethylase and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase could be induced in vitro by treatment with methyl cholanthrene. Glutathione levels were similar to those reported for human liver (35 nmol·mg⁻¹). The results of our work show that adult human hepatocytes obtained from small surgical biopsies and cultured in chemically defined conditions express their most important metabolic functions to an extent that is similar to that reported for adult human liver.     

An evaluation of the P450 inhibition and induction potential of daptomycin in primary human hepatocytes

Two in vitro studies assessed the potential of daptomycin (Cubicin), a newly marketed antibiotic, to affect the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) isoforms in primary cultured human hepatocytes. Both induction and inhibition of isoforms 1A2, 2A6, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4 were evaluated. The highest concentrations of daptomycin used in both the induction and inhibition assays were approximately eight-fold higher than the peak total drug concentration (50-60 microg/mL), or the peak free drug concentration (estimated 5-6 microg/mL), in plasma at the clinical dose regimen of 4 mg/kg qd. Results in primary human hepatocytes indicate that daptomycin, at concentrations up to 400 microg total drug/mL, demonstrated no biologically significant induction of any of the CYP450 isoform activities in comparison with the negative control or known inducers. At daptomycin concentrations up to 40 microg free drug/mL, no biologically significant inhibition of the activities of these CYP450 isoforms was observed as compared with known inhibitors. The human hepatocyte results demonstrate that daptomycin has no effects on hepatic CYP450-mediated drug metabolism and, therefore, suggest that daptomycin is unlikely to show potential for pharmacokinetic interactions with concomitantly administered drugs that are metabolized by CYP450 isoforms.     

Analysis of the ammonia metabolism of rat primary hepatocytes and a human hepatocyte cell line Huh 7

Ammonia metabolism of ratprimary hepatocytes and a human hepatocyte cell line,Huh 7, at different concentrations of glutamine,glucose and ammonia was examined. During theincubation of the primary hepatocyte cells, glutamineand ammonia concentrations decreased, that of ureaincreased, and that of glucose remained the same. Inthe case of Huh 7 cells, glucose was consumed rapidly,the concentration of ammonia increased and that of urearemained the same. The major energy sources amongmedium components were glutamine for the primary cellsand glucose for Huh 7 cells, although the primaryhepatocytes may utilize intracellular glycogen asenergy source. As the glutamine concentration in theincubation medium increased, the specific rates of notonly glutamine consumption, but also ammonia productionby the primary cells and Huh 7 cells increased. Besides, specific urea production rate by the primarycells increased then. Increase of glucoseconcentration had no effect on glutamine and ammoniametabolism by both cells, although it increased glucoseconsumption by Huh 7 cells. The incubation of theprimary cells with higher ammonia concentrationincreased all specific rates of glutamine consumption,ammonia consumption and urea production. An increasein the ammonia concentration to 5 mM changed theammonia metabolism from production to consumption andincreased the specific glucose consumption rate. Consequently, increases in the glutamine and ammoniaconcentrations were revealed to have negative andpositive effects, respectively, on decreasing ammoniaconcentration by both of rat primary hepatocytes andHuh 7 cells.