Methods of treating urea cycle disorders by interfering with glucagon receptor signaling

Abstract

Provided herein are methods of treating a subject with hyperammonemia or a urea cycle disorder. The methods comprise administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutic amount of a glucagon signaling pathway inhibitor, such that ammonia levels are lowered or that amino acid metabolism enzymes are down-regulated, or a condition or disease characterized by hyperammonemia is mediated, or at least one symptom or complication associated with the condition or disease is alleviated or reduced in severity. The glucagon signaling pathway inhibitor can be a small molecule inhibitor of the signaling pathway, an antisense inhibitor of the signaling pathway, shRNA, siRNA, a GCG neutralizing monoclonal antibody, a GCGR antagonist, a peptide inhibitor of the signaling pathway, a DARPin, a Spiegelmer, an aptamer, engineered Fn type-III domains, etc. The therapeutic methods are useful for treating a human suffering from hyperammonemia or a urea cycle disorder.