Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2025

Using Multi-fluorinated Bile Acids and In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Measure Bile Acid Transport
Published on: November 27, 2016
The physiology of bilirubin: health and disease equilibrium
Libor Vitek1, Terry D Hinds2, David E Stec3
1Fourth Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic.
Abstract:
Bilirubin has several physiological functions, both beneficial and harmful. In addition to reactive oxygen species-scavenging activities, bilirubin has potent immunosuppressive effects associated with long-term pathophysiological sequelae. It has been recently recognized as a hormone with endocrine actions and interconnected effects on various cellular signaling pathways. Current studies show that bilirubin also decreases adiposity and prevents metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. All in all, the physiological importance of bilirubin is only now coming to light, and strategies for increasing plasma bilirubin levels to combat chronic diseases are starting to be considered. This review discusses the beneficial effects of increasing plasma bilirubin, incorporates emerging areas of bilirubin biology, and provides key concepts to advance the field.
Related Concept Videos
Bile
Bile is released when dietary fats enter...
Lifecycle of Erythrocytes
The resident phagocytic macrophages deal with these damaged cells by engulfing them and separating their globin and heme groups....
Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder
Cirrhosis is characterized by the scarring of hepatic lobules in the liver, which are replaced by fibrous tissue, affecting the liver's normal functioning. NAFLD, on the other hand, is caused by an excessive build-up of fat in the liver, not...
Liver Physiology
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...
Hepatic Drug Excretion: Enterohepatic Cycling
Post-release drugs and metabolites can be reabsorbed into the body from the intestine. For conjugated metabolites like glucuronides, reabsorption requires enzymatic hydrolysis by intestinal microflora. This...
Hepatic Drug Excretion: Influencing Factors

