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Bile acids and bile salts: ionization and solubility properties.

The number, position and orientation of nuclear OH substituents profoundly influence the equilibrium solubilities of undissociated bile acids in water. Estimates from several studies range from 5 X 10(-8) for lithocholic acid to 1.6 X 10(-3) M for ursocholic acid at 37 degrees C. Fully dissociated sodium bile salts are extremely soluble in water, attaining values as high as 1 to 2 M. However, ionized unconjugated bile salts are appreciably less soluble than their glycine and taurine conjugates. In contrast to aqueous solutions of typical soaps and detergents, aqueous bile salt systems in concentrations beyond the micellar phase limit exhibit no liquid-crystalline phases. The critical micellar temperatures of the common di- and trihydroxy bile salts lie below 0 degree C, hence most bile salts form micelles at all ambient temperatures. With many monohydroxy and certain uncommon dihydroxy bile salts, the critical micellar temperatures lie above body temperature, and a micellar phase is observed only at temperatures in excess of 50 degrees C. The pKa' values of aqueous micellar concentrations of bile salts are influenced by the nuclear substituents, the state of conjugation and bile salt concentration. In contrast, the intrinsic thermodynamic pK'a values of all monocarboxylated bile salts in monomeric solution are similar, are not influenced by nuclear substituents and are equivalent to that expected for propionic acid (pKa' approximately 4.8 to 5.0). These values can be deduced by extrapolation from acidimetric titrations of bile salts in aqueous methanol mixtures or from acidometric aqueous titration of the carboxylate groups of pansulfated bile salts which remain water soluble when the ionic group of the side chain is protonated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bile Acids and Salts↗

Bile acids exert negative feedback control on bile acid synthesis in cultured pig hepatocytes by suppression of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity.

Feedback regulation of bile acid synthesis by its end products was studied in cultured hepatocytes of young weaned pigs. We previously showed that conversion of exogenous [14C] cholesterol into bile acids was suppressed by addition of bile acids to the culture medium. In the present study, the effects of bile acids on bile acid mass production and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity were examined. Mass production of bile acids was strongly inhibited by addition of taurocholic acid (50 and 100 mumol/L) to the culture medium. The inhibitory action was exerted specifically on activity of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase because conversion of [14C] 7 alpha-hydroxycholesterol to bile acids by pig hepatocytes was not affected. Suppression of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity after incubation of the hepatocytes with taurocholic acid was concentration- and time-dependent. Maximum suppression (-80%) was achieved after a 20 to 30 hr incubation of hepatocytes with 100 mumol/L of this bile acid. Decline of enzyme activity caused by 100 mumol/L taurocholic acid followed first-order kinetics with a half-life of 10 hr. Taurocholic acid had no direct effect on cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity in homogenates of hepatocytes as assessed by addition of the bile acid to the assay mixture. The effects of several other bile acids in a concentration of 100 mumol/L on cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity were examined in 48 hr incubations. Glycochenodeoxycholic and glycohyodeoxycholic acids, which are the major bile acids in pig bile, their unconjugated forms and also deoxycholic and cholic acid pronouncedly inhibited activity of the enzyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Is drip infusion cholecystocholangiography (DIC) an acceptable modality at cholecystectomy for cholecystolithiasis, considering the frequency of bile duct maljunction and intraoperative bile duct injury?

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Knowledge of the configuration of the extrahepatic bile duct is indispensable to avoid bile duct injury during cholecystectomy. Various methods of examining the biliary tract have been developed; however, the most appropriate preoperative diagnostic modality at cholecystectomy for cholecystolithiasis has not yet been reported. Considering the frequency of bile duct maljunction (BDM) and operative bile duct injury, in addition to the cost and invasiveness of the various examination methods, we evaluated the usefulness of drip infusion cholecystocholangiography (DIC) as the optimal method of examination at cholecystectomy for cholecystolithiasis. METHODS: Preoperative diagnostic accuracy of BDM was analyzed in relation to operative bile duct injury using 469 patients with benign biliary diseases who was diagnosed with DIC and endoscopic retrograde cholecystography and underwent cholecystectomy. BDM was classified according to Hisatsugu criteria. RESULTS: Out of 469 consecutive patients who underwent a cholecystectomy for biliary stones between January 1, 1995, and September 30, 1998, at Ohta Nishinouchi General Hospital, 21 (4.48%) had a cystic duct maljunction (CDM) and 12 (2.56%) had an aberrant bile duct (ABD). The most common variants were types C and D for CDM, and types II and III for ABD, according to Hisatsugu's classification. Fourteen patients (42.4%) were diagnosed before the surgery; 13 of them received preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC), and the remaining patient underwent preoperative drip infusion cholecystocholangiography (DIC). Nineteen patients could not be correctly diagnosed based on their preoperative examinations, but were diagnosed during surgery. Operative bile duct injury occurred in 1 patient (0.2%) whose maljunction could not be diagnosed before the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Taking into account the medical cost and invasiveness, and the frequency of BDM and related bile duct injuries, we conclude that DIC is an acceptable preoperative diagnostic modality to employ at cholecystectomy for cholecystolithiasis. Knowledge of the configuration of the extrahepatic bile duct is indispensable to avoid bile duct injury during cholecystectomy. Various methods of examining the biliary tract have been developed; however, the most appropriate preoperative diagnostic modality at cholecystectomy for cholecystolithiasis has not yet been reported. Considering the frequency of bile duct maljunction (BDM) and operative bile duct injury, in addition to the cost and invasiveness of the various examination methods, we evaluated the usefulness of drip infusion cholecystocholangiography (DIC) as the optimal method of examination at cholecystectomy for cholecystolithiasis.

Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic↗

Are bile duct lesions of primary biliary cirrhosis distinguishable from those of autoimmune hepatitis and chronic viral hepatitis? Interobserver histological agreement on trimmed bile ducts.

BACKGROUND: Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is histopathologically characterized by chronic nonsuppurative destructive cholangitis and ductopenia of interlobular bile ducts. Bile duct injury is also often encountered in chronic viral hepatitis (CVH) and in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). METHODS: In this study, we performed interobserver agreement analysis on 90 injured bile ducts from liver specimens of PBC (17 cases), CVH (26 cases), and AIH (18 cases), with 30 bile ducts chosen from each disease group. Digital images of bile ducts with minimal periductal elements were recorded in CD-ROM format and sent to 14 observers (six special hepatopathologists, four local hepatopathologists, and four general pathologists). We analyzed the following issues: (1) diagnostic accuracy of PBC, based only on bile duct lesions; (2) classification of bile duct lesions in AIH cases as destructive cholangitis equivalent to PBC-associated injury, or not. RESULTS: The diagnostic accuracy of PBC cases with severe bile duct injuries was very high (over 80%), although the accuracy in cases with only mild bile duct injuries was low (50% or less). For AIH, each observer classified 9 of the 30 bile ducts, on average, as destructive cholangitis. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that 66.9% of PBC cases could be diagnosed based on trimmed bile ducts alone. Bile duct injury similar to that in PBC could be encountered in AIH.

Bile Ducts↗

Regulation of cholesterol and bile acid homoeostasis in bile-obstructed rats.

We examined how total blockage of biliary excretion, the major pathway through which cholesterol and bile acids are removed from the body, affects liver function, cholesterol and bile acid metabolism and homoeostasis. After 4 weeks of bile-duct ligation, rats showed impaired liver function, as documented by elevations in serum bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase activity. Moreover, bile-duct ligation decreased by about 30% both the amount of microsomal cytochrome P-450 in the liver and the elimination of aminopyrine in vivo, a reliable index in vivo of microsomal mixed-function oxidase activity. Cholesterol and bile acid contents in livers of bile-duct-ligated rats were doubled compared with sham-operated controls. Despite the increase in the contents of cholesterol and bile acids in liver, activities of the respective rate-limiting enzymes, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase, were doubled. Serum concentrations of bile acids and free cholesterol increased 25- and 4-fold respectively. The large increase in serum bile acids was associated with a 380-fold increase in the urinary excretion of bile acids. Although there is a general decrease in cytochrome P-450 content and drug metabolism involving cytochrome P-450-containing hydroxylases, the activity of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase, also a cytochrome P-450-containing enzyme, is actually increased. These data show that complete obstruction of the bile duct results in the selective impairment of microsomal cytochrome P-450. Increased activity of 7 alpha-hydroxylase, bile acid synthesis and urinary excretion provides an alternative excretory pathway that helps to maintain cholesterol homoeostasis when the biliary excretory pathway is eliminated.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Bile acid uptake via the human apical sodium-bile acid cotransporter is electrogenic.

Intestinal absorption of bile acids depends on a sodium-bile acid cotransport protein in the apical membrane of the ileal epithelial cell. Transport is Na+-dependent, but the Na+-bile acid stoichiometry and electrogenicity of transport are not known. Studies in whole intestine, isolated cells, and ileal membrane vesicles have been unable to resolve this issue because transport currents are small and can be obscured by other ionic conductances and transport proteins present in these membranes. In this study, the human apical sodium-bile acid transporter was expressed in stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells that lack other bile acid transporters. The Na+-dependent transport of a fluorescent bile acid analog, chenodeoxycholyl-Nepsilon-nitrobenzoxadiazol-lysine, was monitored by fluorescence microscopy in single, voltage-clamped cells. Bile acid movement was bidirectional and voltage-dependent with negative intracellular voltage-stimulating influx. A 3-fold reduction in extracellular Na+ produced a negative 52 mV shift of the flux-voltage relationship, consistent with a 2:1 Na+:bile acid coupling stoichiometry. No Na+- or voltage-dependent uptake was observed in nontransfected Chinese hamster ovary cells. These results indicate that the cotransport of bile acids and Na+ by human apical sodium-bile acid transporter is electrogenic and bidirectional and is best explained by a 2:1 Na+:bile acid coupling stoichiometry. These results suggest that membrane potential may regulate bile acid transport rates under physiological and pathophysiological conditions.

Animals↗

Enhanced expression of the human multidrug resistance protein 3 by bile salt in human enterocytes. A transcriptional control of a plausible bile acid transporter.

The enterohepatic circulation is essential for the maintenance of bile acids and cholesterol homeostasis. The ileal bile acid transporter on the apical membrane of enterocytes mediates the intestinal uptake of bile salts, but little is known about the bile salt secretion from the basolateral membrane of enterocytes into blood. In the basolateral membrane of enterocytes, an ATP-binding cassette transporter, multidrug resistance protein 3 (MRP3), is expressed, which has the ability to transport bile salts. We hypothesized that MRP3 might play a role in the enterohepatic circulation of bile salts by transporting them from enterocytes into circulating blood through the up-regulation of MRP3 expression, so we investigated the transcriptional control of MRP3 in response to bile salts. MRP3 mRNA levels were increased about 3-fold in human colon cells by chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In the promoter assay, the promoter activity of MRP3 was increased about 3-fold over the basal promoter activity when treated with CDCA, and the putative bile salt-responsive elements exist in the region -229/-138 including two alpha-1 fetoprotein transcription factor (FTF)-like elements. Constructs with a specific mutation in the consensus sequence of FTF elements showed no increase in basal transcriptional activity following CDCA treatment. In electrophoretic mobility shift assay with nuclear extracts, specific binding of FTF to FTF-like elements was observed when treated with CDCA. The expression of FTF mRNA levels were also markedly enhanced in response to CDCA, and overexpression of FTF specifically activated the MRP3 promoter activity about 4-fold over the basal promoter activity. FTF thus might play a key role not only in the bile salt synthetic pathway in hepatocytes but also in the bile salt excretion pathway in enterocytes through the regulation of MRP3 expression. MRP3 may contribute as a plausible bile salt-exporting transporter to the enterohepatic circulation of bile salts.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Placental transport of bile acids: analysis of bile acids in maternal serum and urine, umbilical cord blood, and amniotic fluid.

To investigate the role of placental transport of bile acids in fetal bile acid metabolism, such as with regard to synthesis of the unusual bile acids (1 beta- and 6 alpha-hydroxylated and unsaturated bile acids), we measured the concentrations of bile acids in umbilical cord blood, amniotic fluid, maternal serum and maternal urine at delivery by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Serum and urine from healthy nonpregnant women were used as controls. We detected large amounts of unusual bile acids, especially hyocholic acid and 3 beta-hydroxy-delta 5 bile acids, in amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood. The concentration of total bile acids in maternal serum was less than that of control serum and umbilical cord blood, and the concentration of total bile acids in maternal urine was higher than that of control urine and amniotic fluid. In conclusion, the fetus synthesized large amounts of unusual bile acids, and these compounds were transported from fetus to mother by placental transfer. We suggest that pregnant women may excrete large amounts of bile acids into the urine to control serum concentration of bile acids in fetus.

Adult↗

Partial replacement of bile salts causes marked changes of cholesterol crystallization in supersaturated model bile systems.

Cholesterol crystallization is a key step in gallstone formation and is influenced by numerous factors. Human bile contains various bile salts having different hydrophobicity and micelle-forming capacities, but the importance of lipid composition to bile metastability remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of bile salts on cholesterol crystallization in model bile (MB) systems. Supersaturated MB systems were prepared with an identical composition on a molar basis (taurocholate/phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol, 152 mM:38 mM: 24 mM), except for partial replacement of taurocholate (10, 20, and 30%) with various taurine-conjugated bile salts. Cholesterol crystallization was quantitatively estimated by spectrophotometrically measuring crystal-related turbidity and morphologically scanned by video-enhanced microscopy. After partial replacement of taurocholate with hydrophobic bile salts, cholesterol crystallization increased dose-dependently without changing the size of vesicles or crystal morphology and the rank order of crystallization was deoxycholate>chenodeoxycholate>cholate (control MB). All of the hydrophilic bile salts (ursodeoxycholate, ursocholate and beta-muricholate) inhibited cholesterol precipitation by forming a stable liquid-crystal phase, and there were no significant differences among the hydrophilic bile-salt species. Cholesterol crystallization was markedly altered by partial replacement of bile salts with a different hydrophobicity. Thus minimal changes in bile-salt composition may dramatically alter bile lipid metastability.

Bile Acids and Salts↗

Interactions of cationic bile salt derivatives with the ileal bile salt transport system.

Previous structure-activity studies of the active ileal bile salt transport system have demonstrated that a single negative charge on the side chain is essential for active transport. Furthermore, mutual inhibition studies between different pairs of bile salt substrates indicated that dihydroxy bile salts had a greater apparent affinity for the transport system than the trihydroxylated compounds and triketo bile salts had the least such affinity. In this study, a series of cationic bile salt derivatives (cholamine conjugates) were prepared with one, two, and three alpha-hydroxyl groups on the steroid moiety. Based on the previous observations one would expect (1) no active transport of any of the cholamine conjugates by the ileal transport system; (2) interaction of these compounds with the transport system in such a way as to inhibit the transport of bile salts, with inhibition potency of the transport of any single bile salt inversely related to the number of hydroxyl groups present on the cholamine conjugate; and (3) transport of triketo anionic bile salts to be most readily inhibited, trihydroxy compounds less readily inhibited, and dihydroxy bile salts least inhibited. Using everted gut sac preparations it was demonstrated that all three aforementioned expectations did occur. Furthermore, reversible inhibition of ileal absorption of taurocholate and the bile salt derivative taurodehydrocholate could be demonstrated in vivo. The dihydroxy cholamine conjugates were better inhibitors than the trihydroxy compound. Relative specificity for the bile salt system of these cationic bile salt derivatives was demonstrated in the in vivo preparation by comparing its inhibition of taurodehydrocholate absorption with their lesser capacity to inhibit glucose transport.

Animals↗

The economy of the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids in the baboon. 1. Studies of controlled enterohepatic circulation of bile acids.

A primate model with controlled enterohepatic circulation has been developed which allowed short-term evaluation of bile salt pool size, cycling frequency, and fecal losses. We found that when bile salt secretion into the small bowel was increased above 700 mumol/hr bile acid pool cycling frequency was also increased. The latter allowed short-term regulation of bile salt pool size by affecting increased fecal losses. These compensatory mechanisms were associated with a return of bile acid secretion and cycling frequency to normal usually within 12-24 hours. Conversely, during decreased bile salt secretion, regulation of bile salt pool size was accomplished by decreased pool cycling, which decreased fecal losses. Bile acid secretion into the intestine was therefore a major determinant of bile salt cycling frequency. The latter affected bile salt fecal loss to provide short-term regulation of bile salt pool when feedback regulation of bile salt synthesis was nonoperative.

Animals↗

Bile acids and lipids in isolated rat hepatocytes. II. Source of cholesterol used for bile acid formation, estimated by incorporation of tritium from tritiated water, and by the effect of ML-236B.

After incubation in the presence of tritiated water, incorporation of tritium into cholesterol and into different bile acids was several-fold higher using hepatocytes of cholestyramine-fed rats than that found using hepatocytes of control rats. Labeling of the trihydroxylated cholic and beta-muricholic acids was markedly greater than that of dihydroxycholanoic acid. The total amount of label in all bile acids was 30% or less of that in free cholesterol, in both types of hepatocytes. In combination with the data on bile acids mass production we could calculate the average number (N(a)) of tritium atoms incorporated per molecule of newly-formed bile acid. The experimental values of N(a) for cholic and beta-muricholic acid were compared with values of N(n) or N(o), theoretically predicted if these bile acids were derived entirely from newly made or pre-existent cholesterol, respectively. It was deduced for hepatocytes of cholestyramine-fed rats that the bile acids produced in the first hour of incubation should be totally derived from pre-existent cholesterol, whereas 50% and 25% of the cholic and beta-muricholic acid, respectively, produced during the second and third hours of incubation should be derived from newly synthesized cholesterol. The contribution of newly made cholesterol as substrate for bile acid production was also estimated by using ML-236B. In a concentration of 12 micro M, it depressed cholesterol synthesis by 90% during 1 or 3 hours of incubation of hepatocytes of cholestyramine-fed rats. Mass production of cholic acid was depressed by 25% and that of beta-muricholic acid was not inhibited at all by ML-236B during the first hour of incubation, while they were depressed by 71 and 52%, respectively, during the second plus third hours of incubation. It is concluded that 1) in isolated hepatocytes newly made cholesterol can be a significant substrate for bile acid formation; 2) there are separate cholesterol substrate pools for the productions of cholic or beta-muricholic acid; 3) of the total carbon flux directed into cholesterol synthesis, the major part ends up as free cholesterol and only a minor part as bile acids, even in hepatocytes with a derepressed bile acid production.-Kempen, H. J., M. Vos-van Holstein, and J. de Lange. Bile acids and lipids in isolated rat hepatocytes. II. Source of cholesterol used for bile acid formation, estimated by incorporation of tritium from tritiated water, and by the effect of ML-236B.

Animals↗

Bile acid-induced morphological changes in hepatoma cells with elevated sodium-dependent bile acid uptake capacity.

McNtcp.24 cells are rat hepatoma cells that were made competent to take up conjugated bile acids actively from the culture medium. Treatment of McNtcp.24 cells with certain species of bile acids caused significant changes in cell structure. Incubation of McNtcp.24 cells in medium containing 100 microM taurocholic acid induced a profound alteration of cellular morphology. Very larger vesicles, visible by phase contrast microscopy, were the most prominent feature of bile acid-treated McNtcp.24 cells. Staining of cells with Oil red O and filipin indicated that the vesicles did not contain neutral lipids or free cholesterol. The vesicles remained in the cells after efflux of radiolabeled taurocholic acid from bile acid loaded cells, indicating that these structures are not intracellular stores of bile acids. Electron microscopic analysis of bile acid-treated McNtcp.24 cells confirmed that the vesicles were localized within the cells. Taurine-conjugated bile acid species were generally potent inducers of the morphological changes, although tauroursodeoxycholic acid did not have a significant effect. Unconjugated bile acid species were ineffective or only mildly effective. Bile acid treatment also caused profound alteration of mitochondrial structure. Surprisingly, there was no significant effect on the ability of treated cells to oxidize fatty acids. The bile acid-treated cells remained viable and upon withdrawal of bile acids from the culture medium, the cells returned to normal morphology by 24 h. The morphological changes observed after treatment of McNtcp.24 with bile acids are reminiscent of the morphological changes observed in hepatocytes following induction of cholestasis.

Animals↗

Cytotoxicity of bile salts against biliary epithelium: a study in isolated bile ductule fragments and isolated perfused rat liver.

We evaluated cytotoxic effects of different unconjugated and glycine- and taurine-conjugated bile salts (BS) against bile duct epithelial cells in isolated bile ductule fragments and isolated perfused rat liver. Ultrastructural morphometric studies were performed in polarized rat bile ductule fragments exposed in vitro to increasing concentrations (10-100 micromol/L) of lithocholate (LCA), deoxycholate (DCA), chenodeoxycholate (CDCA), cholate (CA), ursodeoxycholate (UDCA), their taurine-conjugates, and glycoconjugates of cholic (GCA) or chenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA) for 20, 30, or 75 minutes. To evaluate the cytotoxicity of unconjugated hydrophobic bile salts against biliary epithelium (BDE) in the whole liver, livers were isolated from rats with impaired taurine-conjugation capacity (beta-alanine treatment) and perfused for 70 minutes with 2 micromol/min LCA (n = 6), CDCA (n = 6), CA (n = 6), or 0.5 micromol/min tauro-LCA (n = 4). In isolated bile ductule fragments, hydrophobic unconjugated bile salts (LCA, CDCA, DCA) induced a marked damage of intracellular organelles, mainly mitochondria. The damage started at a concentration of 10 micromol/L and became prominent at concentrations higher than 50 micromol/L. No damage of the apical and basolateral membrane was seen and tight junctions appeared intact. UDCA, taurine and glycoconjugated bile salts failed to induce any evident ultrastructural alteration. In taurine-depleted isolated livers, perfused with LCA, CDCA, or CA, bile duct epithelial cells showed no evidence of intracellular damage, despite the increased biliary excretion of unconjugated BS. Marked alterations of the apical cell membrane were seen only in livers perfused with LCA and in isolated segments of the biliary epithelium. In contrast with biliary epithelium, hepatocytes showed prominent subcellular damage with CA and CDCA, and profound alterations of the canalicular membrane with LCA and tauro-LCA. We have shown that, in vitro, BDE cells are not damaged by taurine- or glycine-conjugated BS, but they are very sensitive to cytotoxicity of hydrophobic unconjugated BS. Such sensitivity is not present in the whole liver, probably because of the specificity of BS transport processes, the microvascular architecture of the bile ductal system, and the presence in bile of a physiological surfactant, such as phospholipids.

Animals↗