Ammonia-triggered apoptosis via immune function and metabolic process in the thymuses of chickens by proteomics analysis.

Ammonia (NH), an environmental pollutant with a pungent odor, is not only an important volatile in fertilizer production and ranching, but also main basic component of haze. In present study, we found that ultrastructural changes and 3167 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) using proteomics analysis in the thymuses of chickens exposed to NH on day 42. Obtained DEPs were enriched using GO and KEGG; and 66 DEPs took part in immune function, metabolic process, and apoptosis in the thymuses of chickens treated with NH. 9 genes of DEPs were validated using qRT-PCR, and mRNA expression of 2 immune-related genes (CTSG and NFATC2), 3 metabolic process-related genes (APOA1, GOT1, and GOLGA3), and 4 apoptosis-related genes (PIK3CD, CTSS, CAMP, and NSD2) were consistent with DEPs in chicken thymuses. Our results indicated that excess NH led to immunosuppression, metabolic disorder, and apoptosis in chicken thymuses. Present study gives a novel insight into the mechanism of NH toxicity and demonstrated that immune response, metabolism process, and apoptosis were important in the mechanism of NH toxicity of chicken exposure to high concentration of NH.