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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

The Isolation of Flowing Mesenteric Lymph in Mice to Quantify In Vivo Kinetics of Dietary Lipid Absorption and Chylomicron Secretion
Published on: November 30, 2022
The mechanism of the formation and secretion of chylomicrons
Tammy Kindel1, Dana M Lee, Patrick Tso
1University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, United States.
Abstract:
The purpose of this review is to update the reader on our current understanding of the uptake and secretion of dietary lipid by the enterocyte to the periphery. This is a multi-stage process that first involves luminal digestion, followed by cellular uptake and processing, and subsequent extracellular transport of chylomicrons. We discuss the importance of acid and pancreatic lipase in lipid digestion. Micellar solubilization of fatty acids and 2-mono-acyl glycerol is critical to uptake by enhancing enterocyte exposure. There is controversy regarding the mechanism of fatty acid uptake by the enterocyte and whether this is mediated by a carrier-dependent process. The mechanism of fatty acid transport to the endoplasmic reticulum is discussed including the role of fatty acid binding proteins. Intracellularly, 2-monoacylglycerol and fatty acid are reconstituted to form triacylglycerol by the action of MGAT and DGAT. We focus on the mechanisms of intracellular chylomicron formation and secretion into lymph. Chylomicron and VLDL particles differ not only by an operational definition but likely represent two distinct pathways of intestinal lipoprotein formation. The physiologic role of apo B-48 in the intestine is presented as well as clinical disease of chylomicron metabolism, specifically abetalipoproteinemia and Anderson's disease.
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