Do fibrinolytic proteins of human bile derive exclusively from gall bladder?

In this study we addressed the issue of whether fibrinolytic proteins are presented in gall bladder bile only or in choledochus bile as well.

Gall bladder bile was obtained from 20 patients (Group I) undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Bile from common bile duct was aspirated after insertion Kehr drainage from 9 patients (Group II). The concentrations of t-PA, u-PA, PAI-1 and PAI-2 were measured by ELISA.

We have shown that in cholecystectomized patients fibrinolytic proteins can be detected in bile both from gall bladder and from choledochus. Mean concentrations of t-PA, u-PA, PAI-1 were lower in Group II (5.69 ng/ml vs 15.7; 0.46 ng/ml vs 0.7; 16.82 ng/ml vs 26.16 ng/ml) or nearly equal for PAI-2 (343.53 ng/ml vs 341.02). All differences were insignificant (p > 0.05).

Based on these results we concluded that the entire biliary tree produces the fibrinolytic proteins thus this production is not restricted to the gall bladder as it was earlier reported [1].