Sirtuin 5 alleviates apoptosis and autophagy stimulated by ammonium chloride in bovine mammary epithelial cells.

Ammonia (NH) is an irritating and harmful gas that affects cell apoptosis and autophagy. Sirtuin 5 (SIRT5) has multiple enzymatic activities and regulates NH-induced autophagy in tumor cells. In order to determine whether SIRT5 regulates NH-induced bovine mammary epithelial cell apoptosis and autophagy, cells with SIRT5 overexpression or knockdown were generated and in addition, bovine mammary epithelial cells were treated with SIRT5 inhibitors. The results showed that SIRT5 overexpression reduced the content of NH and glutamate in cells by inhibiting glutaminase activity in glutamine metabolism, and reduced the ratio of ADP/ATP. The results in the SIRT5 knockdown and inhibitor groups were comparable, including increased content of NH and glutamate in cells by activating glutaminase activity, and an elevated ratio of ADP/ATP. It was further confirmed that SIRT5 inhibited the apoptosis and autophagy of bovine mammary epithelial cells through reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, western blot, flow cytometry with Annexin V FITC/PI staining and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, it was also found that the addition of LY294002 or Rapamycin inhibited the PI3K/Akt or mTOR kinase signal, decreasing the apoptosis and autophagy activities of bovine mammary epithelial cells induced by SIRT5-inhibited NH. In summary, the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signal involved in NH-induced cell autophagy and apoptosis relies on the regulation of SIRT5. This study provides a new theory for the use of NH to regulate bovine mammary epithelial cell apoptosis and autophagy, and provides guidance for improving the health and production performance of dairy cows.