Einarsson C, Ellis E, Abrahamsson A, Ericzon BG, Björkhem I, Axelson M. Bile acid formation in primary human hepatocytes. World J Gastroenterol 2000; 6(4): 522-525 [PMID: 11819640 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v6.i4.522]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Dr. Curt Einarsson, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet at Huddinge University Hospital, SE-141 86 Stock holm, Sweden. Curt.Einarsson@medhs.ki.se
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World J Gastroenterol. Aug 15, 2000; 6(4): 522-525 Published online Aug 15, 2000. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v6.i4.522
Bile acid formation in primary human hepatocytes
Curt Einarsson, Ewa Ellis, Anna Abrahamsson, Bo-Göran Ericzon, Ingemar Björkhem, Magnus Axelson
Curt Einarsson, Ewa Ellis, Anna Abrahamsson, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine
Bo-Göran Ericzon, Department of Transplantation Surgery
Ingemar Björkhem, Department of Clinical Chemistry-Karolinska Institutet at Huddinge Unive rsity Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Magnus Axelson, Department of Clinical Chemistry-Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm. Sweden
Curt Einarsson, Graduated from the Karolinska Institutet in 1969, now Professor of Gastroenterology. Main research interests are bile acid formation and its regulation, biliary lipid secretion and gallstone formation. Dr Einarsson has published 290 papers.
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council (03X-4793 and 03X-7890)
Correspondence to: Dr. Curt Einarsson, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet at Huddinge University Hospital, SE-141 86 Stock holm, Sweden. Curt.Einarsson@medhs.ki.se
Telephone: +46-8-58580000 Fax: +46-8-58582335
Received: February 12, 2000 Revised: February 25, 2000 Accepted: March 5, 2000 Published online: August 15, 2000
Abstract
AIM: To evaluate a culture system for bile acid formation in primary human hepatocytes in comparison with HepG2 cells.
METHODS: Hepatocytes were isolated from normal human liver tissue and were cultured in serum-free William’s E medium. The medium was collected and re newed every 24 h. Bile acids and their precursors in media were finally analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
RESULTS: Cholic acid (CA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) conjugated with glycine or taurine accounted for 70% and 25% of total steroids. A third of CDC A was also conjugated with sulphuric acid. Dexamethasone and thyroid hormone alone or in combination did not significantly effect bile acid formation. The addit ion of cyclosporin A (10 μmol/L) inhibited the synthesis of CA and CDCA by about 13% and 30%, respectively.
CONCLUSION: Isolated human hepatocytes in primary culture behave as in the intact liver by converting cholesterol to conjugated CA and CDCA. This is in contrast to cultured HepG2 cells, which release large amounts of bile acid precursors and unconjugated bile acids into the medium.
