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08:42
Using Multi-fluorinated Bile Acids and In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Measure Bile Acid Transport
Published on: November 27, 2016
Bile acids: chemistry, physiology, and pathophysiology.
Maria J Monte1, Jose J G Marin, Alvaro Antelo
1Laboratory of Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting, CIBERehd, University of Salamanca, Salamanca 37007, Spain. mjmonte@usal.es
World Journal of Gastroenterology
|February 21, 2009
Summary
Bile acids, synthesized in the liver, are crucial for fat digestion and other physiological roles. Disruptions in bile acid metabolism can lead to severe liver diseases and necessitate liver transplantation.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Hepatology
- Steroid Metabolism
Background:
- Bile acids are acidic steroids synthesized from cholesterol in the liver.
- They possess unique physical-chemical and biological properties.
- Their synthesis involves complex pathways regulated by feedback mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the multifaceted roles of bile acids in physiological processes.
- To highlight the consequences of bile acid metabolism abnormalities.
- To explore the therapeutic potential of bile acids.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on bile acid synthesis, transport, and function.
- Analysis of genetic defects impacting bile acid pathways.
- Examination of bile acid's role in cholestatic liver diseases and pregnancy.
Main Results:
- Bile acids are vital for fat digestion and absorption.
- Genetic defects in bile acid metabolism can cause severe liver conditions, potentially requiring transplantation.
- Elevated bile acids in cholestasis induce oxidative stress and apoptosis, damaging liver and extrahepatic tissues.
Conclusions:
- Bile acids are critical molecules with diverse physiological functions.
- Dysregulation of bile acid homeostasis has significant clinical implications, including liver disease and pregnancy complications.
- The properties of bile acids offer opportunities for drug development and drug delivery systems.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Bile
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Bile is released when dietary fats enter...
Bile is released when dietary fats enter...
01:29Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation
Although not a source of energy, cholesterol plays a significant role as a foundational structure for bile salts, steroid hormones, and vitamin D, as well as being a crucial component of plasma membranes. Approximately 15% of blood cholesterol is derived from our diet, with the remainder synthesized from acetyl CoA by the liver and intestines. Cholesterol is eliminated from the body through its conversion into bile salts, which are eventually discarded in the feces.
Considering cholesterol and...
Considering cholesterol and...
01:24Lipid Absorption
Dietary triglycerides from chyme in the duodenum are mixed with bile salts produced by the liver to emulsify fats. As a result, large droplets are broken down into smaller ones, increasing the surface area for enzymatic action. Once emulsified, pancreatic lipases hydrolyze the triglycerides into free fatty acids and monoglycerides.
These breakdown products bind with bile salts and lecithin to form micelles, which quickly pass between microvilli to come in close contact with the apical...
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01:30Liver Physiology
The liver, an essential organ in the human body, performs over 200 vital functions that can be broadly categorized into metabolic, hematological, endocrine regulation, and bile production.
Metabolic Regulation:
The liver is the central organ involved in regulating blood composition. It stabilizes blood glucose levels, maintaining them within the range of 70–110 mg/dL. When these levels drop, the liver breaks down glycogen reserves and releases glucose into the bloodstream. It can also...
Metabolic Regulation:
The liver is the central organ involved in regulating blood composition. It stabilizes blood glucose levels, maintaining them within the range of 70–110 mg/dL. When these levels drop, the liver breaks down glycogen reserves and releases glucose into the bloodstream. It can also...
01:28Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism
Lipids also are sources of energy that power cellular processes. Like carbohydrates, lipids are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, but these atoms are arranged differently. Most lipids are nonpolar and hydrophobic. Major types include fats and oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids.
Fatty acids are catabolized in a process called beta-oxidation, which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria and converts their fatty acid chains into two-carbon units of acetyl groups. The acetyl...
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01:31Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body
Fats and lipids are crucial components in the human body. Some lipid-derived compounds, such as fat-soluble vitamins, eicosanoids, lipoproteins, and glycolipids, also play unique roles to support various biological processes .
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin, delayed...
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