NH4C1 and protein metabolism in human gingival fibroblasts

Abstract – The biologic effect of ammonia was studied in cultures of fibroblasts isolated from human gingiva. NH_CI in the range 2–20 mu was found to exhibit a concentration dependent growth inhibitory effect, with a delayed action wllich was most pronounced at low concentrations. Concomitant with the growth inhibitor)'effect a significant cellular accumulation of protein was evident. No effect on protein synthesis in general, as measured by G-protine incorporation, was found, whereas some inhibitory effect on collagen biosynthesis was indicated. Secretion of C-collagen and other labeled proteins was not affected. The only pronounced effect of ammonia on metabolism of the l4C-labeled proteins was an inhibition of the intracellular degradation of newly synthesized collagen, the lysosomes being suggested as the site for this degradation.