It has been suggested that qualitative changes in bile phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) play a role in the pathogenesis of cholesterol gallstones. We investigated the possible relationship between the molecular composition and hydrophobicity of biliary lecithins and bile cholesterol saturation, nucleation time and the mode of cholesterol transport in human gallbladder bile. Nineteen patients (12 with and seven without gallstones) undergoing abdominal surgery were studied. Bile cholesterol saturation ranged from 77% to 186% (median: 123%) and nucleation time from 1 to 24 days (median: 3 days). Biliary lipid carriers (vesicles and mixed micelles) were separated using Superose-6 gel chromatography and their lipid content was quantitated. Biliary lecithin composition was analyzed by HPLC. Fourteen individual molecular species were detected in the bile: none were related to cholesterol saturation or nucleation time. An arbitrary cumulative index of lecithin hydrophobicity was computed for each bile sample, based on the HPLC capacity factor of the individual species and their percent mole fraction: this index ranged from 47.0 and 58.5 (median: 49) and was unrelated to cholesterol saturation and nucleation time. The biliary concentration of sn-1 palmitoyl:sn-2 arachidonoyl lecithin was significantly correlated (p less than 0.01) with the fraction of cholesterol carried by mixed micelles. This finding suggests that arachidonoyl lecithin may play a modulatory role in the partitioning of cholesterol among biliary carriers. We conclude that major abnormalities in the composition of biliary lecithins are unlikely to play a causative role in the pathogenesis of cholesterol gallstone, although the role of arachidonoyl species requires further investigation.

Angelico, M., Ginanni Corradini, S., Masella, R., Alvaro, D., Cantafora, A., Capocaccia, L. (1992). Molecular composition of biliary phosphatidylcholines, as related to cholesterol saturation, transport and nucleation in human gallbladder bile. JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY, 15(1-2), 59-66.

Molecular composition of biliary phosphatidylcholines, as related to cholesterol saturation, transport and nucleation in human gallbladder bile

ANGELICO, MARIO;
1992-05-01

Abstract

It has been suggested that qualitative changes in bile phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) play a role in the pathogenesis of cholesterol gallstones. We investigated the possible relationship between the molecular composition and hydrophobicity of biliary lecithins and bile cholesterol saturation, nucleation time and the mode of cholesterol transport in human gallbladder bile. Nineteen patients (12 with and seven without gallstones) undergoing abdominal surgery were studied. Bile cholesterol saturation ranged from 77% to 186% (median: 123%) and nucleation time from 1 to 24 days (median: 3 days). Biliary lipid carriers (vesicles and mixed micelles) were separated using Superose-6 gel chromatography and their lipid content was quantitated. Biliary lecithin composition was analyzed by HPLC. Fourteen individual molecular species were detected in the bile: none were related to cholesterol saturation or nucleation time. An arbitrary cumulative index of lecithin hydrophobicity was computed for each bile sample, based on the HPLC capacity factor of the individual species and their percent mole fraction: this index ranged from 47.0 and 58.5 (median: 49) and was unrelated to cholesterol saturation and nucleation time. The biliary concentration of sn-1 palmitoyl:sn-2 arachidonoyl lecithin was significantly correlated (p less than 0.01) with the fraction of cholesterol carried by mixed micelles. This finding suggests that arachidonoyl lecithin may play a modulatory role in the partitioning of cholesterol among biliary carriers. We conclude that major abnormalities in the composition of biliary lecithins are unlikely to play a causative role in the pathogenesis of cholesterol gallstone, although the role of arachidonoyl species requires further investigation.
mag-1992
Pubblicato
Rilevanza internazionale
Articolo
Sì, ma tipo non specificato
Settore MED/12 - GASTROENTEROLOGIA
English
Con Impact Factor ISI
Cholelithiasis; Humans; Biological Transport; Aged; Cholesterol; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Gallbladder; Micelles; Bile; Adult; Middle Aged; Phosphatidylcholines; Female; Male
Angelico, M., Ginanni Corradini, S., Masella, R., Alvaro, D., Cantafora, A., Capocaccia, L. (1992). Molecular composition of biliary phosphatidylcholines, as related to cholesterol saturation, transport and nucleation in human gallbladder bile. JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY, 15(1-2), 59-66.
Angelico, M; Ginanni Corradini, S; Masella, R; Alvaro, D; Cantafora, A; Capocaccia, L
Articolo su rivista
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2108/65289
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 1
  • Scopus 23
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 28
social impact