【Abstract】ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationships between the transporters BSEP， MRP2， MDR3 and cholesterol calculus formation. MethodsTwenty hepatic tissue specimens were taken from consented patients with cholesterol calculus during intraoperative liver biopsy, of which ten were taken from patients without cholesterol calculus. RNA of liver tissue from all the samples was extracted and ultraviolet spectrophotometry was used to measure the content and purity of it. The mRNA and protein expressions of BSEP, MRP2 and MDR3 were determined by reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) and Western blot analysis, respectively. ResultsRTPCR showed that the mRNA expressions of BSEP, MRP2 and MDR3 in liver were significantly lower in patients with cholesterol calculus （0.47±0.18, 1.12±0.39 and 1.02±0.24） than those in the liver of patients without calculus （0.90±0.42, 2.48±0.89 and 1.94±0.80）,P＜0.01. And Western blot also showed the protein expressions of these transporters were significantly lower in patients with cholesterol calculus （90.16±18.82, 45.43±22.77 and 61.08±14.77） than those in the liver of patients without calculus (186.17±4.34, 160.47±30.19 and 100.84±15.44). ConclusionThe decreased expression of BSEP, MRP2 and MDR3 may correlate with the formation of cholesterol calculus.
Objective To investigate the mRNA expressions of liver X receptor α (LXRα), farnesoid X receptor (FXR), steroid xenobiotic receptor (SXR) and liver receptor homolog 1 (LRH-1) gene in patients with cholesterol gallstone (CGS) disease in order to elucidate the biomolecular pathogenesis of gallstone formation. Methods Twenty-seven patients with CGS (CGS group) and 10 controls without gallstones (control group) were included in this study. Serum lipid composition (total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, apoprotein B, apoprotein A1), gallstone cholesterol concentration and biliary composition (cholesterol, bile salts, lecithin) were assayed. Biliary total lipid and cholesterol saturation index (CSI) were calculated. mRNA expressions of LRH-1, FXR, SXR and LXRα gene were determined by real-time polymorphism chain reaction. Results Serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration was lower in CGS group than that in control group 〔(0.93±0.05) mmol/L vs (1.33±0.09) mmol/L, P＜0.001〕 and serum apoprotein A1 was also lower in CGS group than that in control group 〔(1.19±0.05) g/L vs (1.36±0.06) g/L, P＜0.05〕. There were no differences in serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and apoprotein B between two groups (Pgt;0.05). CSI was higher in CGS group than that in control group (1.17±0.02 vs 0.79±0.10), P＜0.001. Biliary cholesterol was also higher in CGS group than that in control group 〔(7.96±0.39) mol% vs (5.26±0.89) mol%, P＜0.01〕, while biliary total lipid was lower in CGS group than that in control group 〔(104.72±10.51) g/L vs (154.24±14.20) g/L, P＜0.05〕. There were no differences in bile salts and lecithin between two groups (Pgt;0.05). Expression of LRH-1 gene was higher in CGS group than that in control group (14.18±1.80 vs 7.22±2.22), the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). There were no differences in mRNA expressions of LXRα, FXR and SXR gene between two groups (Pgt;0.05). Conclusion CGS disease may be related to increased expression of LRH-1 gene.
To study of plasma lipoprotein cholesterol and effects of these changes on bile acids and cholesterol in bile during gallstone formation in rabbit model. This gallstone model was induced by high cholesterol diet (HCD). The rabbits were divided into five groups and there were ten animals in each group. The plasma highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and its subgroups (HDL2-C, HDL3-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), total cholesterol, triglyceride, phospholipid, bile acids and cholesterol of bile were investigated in different time. The results were as follow: ①As the time of feeding HCD passed by, the plasma total cholesterol, LDL-C and VLDL-C increased markedly (3-week group and 4-week group vs control group, Ｐ＜0.05). Though the plasma HDL-C and its subfractions HDL2-C and HDL3-C did not change significantly, the function of HDL in transporting plasma cholesterol decreased markedly (from 80.00% to merely 3.68%); ②Cholesterol in bile increased gradually and there were significant differences when 3-week group and 4-week group comparing with control group. The concentration of GDCA and GCA in bile changed slightly (Ｐ＞0.05). These results suggest that the changes of plasma lipoprotein cholesterol may affect the metabolism of cholesterol and bile acids and it may take an important role in the formation of gallstone.
Objective To investigate the relationship between the polymorphism of 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and cholestero1 cholecystolithiasis. Methods CYP7A-1 genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP approach in 160 cholesterol cholecystolithiasis patients and 94 control subjects.Results The frequencies of C, A allele of CYP7A1 gene were 83.75%, 16.25% in cholesterol cholecystolithiasis patients and 81.91% and 18.09% in control group. There was no significant difference in frequencies of allele and genotype in A-204C polymorphism between two groups (Pgt;0.05). In control group and cholesterol cholecystolithiasis group， LDL-C levels in AA genotypes were lower than those in CC and CA genotype (Plt;0.05). Conclusion The results indicate that no direct association is found between CYP7A-1 gene and cholesterol cholecystolithiasis，but there is significant correlation between the polymorphism of the CYP7A-1 gene and the levels of LDL-C.
【Abstract】Objective To observe the bacteria in cholesterol stones by electronic microscope and to explore the role of bacteria in the stone formation.Methods Twelve patients with cholelithiasis underwent operations (male 6, female 6, average age 54.6 years） with cholecystolithiasis 5, extrahepatic and intrahepatic bile duct stone 1, common bile duct stone combining with gallstone 6. The cholesterol stones were observed by electronic microscope.Results There were bacterial structures in the cholesterol stones and cholesterol crystals.Conclusion There are bacteria in the core and peripheral of cholesterol stones, which suggests that bacteria may play an initial role in the formation of cholesterol stones.
Objective To discuss the changes of c-kit/scf mRNA and protein in guinea pig gallbladder fed on high cholesterol diet. Methods Twenty guinea pigs were divided into two equal groups of 10 each：the control group and lithogenic group. Normal diet and high cholesterol diet was given to each group respectively. The period of stone permeation was six weeks. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to determin the expressions of c-kit and scf mRNA and protein. Results RT-PCR results showed that the expressions of c-kit mRNA（t=6.985，P＜0.01） and scf mRNA （t=6.028， P＜0.01）decreased significantly in lithogenic group compared with the control group. Western blot results showed that the expressions of c-kit protein （t=10.256， P＜0.01） and scf protein （t=9.586， P＜0.01）decreased significantly in lithogenic group compared with the control group. Conclusions The expressions of c-kit/scf mRNA and protein decrease during the formation of cholesterol gallstones in guinea pigs fed on high cholesterol diet. Inhibition of c-kit/scf pathway may play a role in the formation of cholesterol gallstones.
ObjectiveTo explore the expressions of transthyretin(TTR) mRNA and its protein in tissues of human gallbladder with cholesterol gallstones, and to explore its role in the formation of cholesterol gallstones. MethodsGallbladder were got from cases of cholesterol gallstones(cholesterol gallstones group, n=25) and cases underwent liver transplantation with normal gallbladder(normal control group, n=9) respectively, who were treated in Ren Ji Hospital and Huashan Hospital. Real time PCR(RT-PCR) and Western blot method were used to determine the expressions of TTR mRNA and its protein respectively. In addition, 2 kinds of artificial model bile system were established to test nucleation time(NT) and nucleation activity, which added TTR and albumin(ALB). ResultsThe expression levels of TTR mRNA and protein in cholesterol gallstones group were 1.51±0.78 and 3.95±0.09 respectively, which were both higher than those of normal control group(P<0.05). The NT were(14.5±1.3)d and(18.0±0.8)d in TTR group and ALB group in small model bile system(P<0.01), which was similar with comprehensive model bile system[(13.5±0.6)d vs. (18.5±1.3)d]. The nucleation activity were 0.81 and 0.73 in small model bile system and comprehensive model bile system respectively. ConclusionsExpression of TTR up-regulates in human gallbladder tissues of patients with cholesterol gallstones, and TTR plays role of nucleation in model bile system, which is related to the formation of cholesterol gallstones.
Objective To study the latest research progress of the formation mechanism of cholesterol stone disease and forming factors of cholesterol stone disease and to provide new theoretical level and develop a new development direction for guiding clinical application. Methods The related literatures at home and abroad were analyzed, compared and summarized, and the current relevant research dynamic of cholesterol stone disease was sketched. Results The formation of cholesterol gallstone is closely related to the abnormal levels of serum lipids metabolism, bacterial and viral infection, and the expression of genes related to cholesterol gallstone. Conclusions The formation of cholesterol calculus disease is a kind of interaction and intricate disease process involving of environmental factors, genetic factors, and biological factors. Although there has been a lot of blood lipid, protein correlation research with cholesterol stone, there are also many studies such as using gene transplantation and gene knockout, but gene technology of cholesterol stone disease diagnosis and treatment is expected to become the new hot research topic.
The aim of the this study was to search for bacterial DNA sequences in cholesterol gallstones with negative bacterial culture by NP-PCR technique. Bacterial gene fragments were amplified in vitro from DNA which were extracted from cholesterol gallstones in gallbladder for identifying the existence of bacteria. The gallbladder gallstones of 30 patients were analysed. Bacterial DNA was found in the stones of 26 patients, indicating that most cholesterol gallstones harbor bacterial DNA.