HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Moschetta, A. Articles by van Erpecum, K. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Moschetta, A. Articles by van Erpecum, K. J. Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Journal of Lipid Research, Vol. 42, 1273-1281, August 2001
Copyright © 2001 by Lipid Research, Inc.

Original Article

Cholesterol crystallization in model biles: effects of bile salt and phospholipid species composition

Correspondence to: Karel J. van Erpecum, To whom correspondence should be addressed., k.j.vanerpecum{at}azu.nl (E-mail)

Cholesterol in human bile is solubilized in micelles by (relatively hydrophobic) bile salts and phosphatidylcholine (unsaturated acyl chains at sn-2 position). Hydrophilic tauroursodeoxycholate, dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine, and sphingomyelin all decrease cholesterol crystal-containing zones in the equilibrium ternary phase diagram (van Erpecum, K. J., and M. C. Carey. 1997. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1345: 269;–282) and thus could be valuable in gallstone prevention. We have now compared crystallization in cholesterol-supersaturated model systems (3.6 g/dl, 37°C) composed of various bile salts as well as egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (unsaturated acyl chains at sn-2 position), dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine, or sphingomyelin throughout the phase diagram. At low phospholipid contents [left two-phase (micelle plus crystal-containing) zone], tauroursodeoxycholate, dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine, and sphingomyelin all enhanced crystallization. At pathophysiologically relevant intermediate phospholipid contents [central three-phase (micelle plus vesicle plus crystal-containing) zone], tauroursodeoxycholate inhibited, but dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin enhanced, crystallization. Also, during 10 days of incubation, there was a strong decrease in vesicular cholesterol contents and vesicular cholesterol-to-phospholipid ratios (1 on day 10), coinciding with a strong increase in crystal mass. At high phospholipid contents [right two-phase (micelle plus vesicle-containing) zone], vesicles were always unsaturated and crystallization did not occur.

Strategies aiming to increase amounts of hydrophilic bile salts may be preferable to increasing saturated phospholipids in bile, because the latter may enhance crystallization. — Moschetta, A., G. P. vanBerge-Henegouwen, P. Portincasa, G. Palasciano, and K. J. van Erpecum. Cholesterol crystallization in model biles: effects of bile salt and phospholipid species composition. J. Lipid Res. 2001. 42: 1273;–1281.

Supplementary key words: crystals, dialysis, intermixed micellar/vesicular bile salt concentration, micelles, phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, taurocholate, taurodeoxycholate, tauroursodeoxycholate, ultrafiltration, vesicles

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				I J A M Jonkers, A H M Smelt, M Ledeboer, M E Hollum, I Biemond, F Kuipers, F Stellaard, R Boverhof, A E Meinders, C H B W Lamers, et al. Gall bladder dysmotility: a risk factor for gall stone formation in hypertriglyceridaemia and reversal on triglyceride lowering therapy by bezafibrate and fish oil Gut, January 1, 2003; 52(1): 109 - 115. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Portincasa, N. G. Venneman, A. Moschetta, A. van den Berg, G. Palasciano, G. P. vanBerge-Henegouwen, and K. J. van Erpecum Quantitation of cholesterol crystallization from supersaturated model bile J. Lipid Res., April 1, 2002; 43(4): 604 - 610. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]