PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Lithocholic Acid”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

6alpha-hydroxylation of taurochenodeoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid by CYP3A4 in human liver microsomes.

The aim of the present study was to identify the enzymes in human liver catalyzing hydroxylations of bile acids. Fourteen recombinant expressed cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, human liver microsomes from different donors, and selective cytochrome P450 inhibitors were used to study the hydroxylation of taurochenodeoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid. Recombinant expressed CYP3A4 was the only enzyme that was active towards these bile acids and the enzyme catalyzed an efficient 6alpha-hydroxylation of both taurochenodeoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid. The Vmax for 6alpha-hydroxylation of taurochenodeoxycholic acid by CYP3A4 was 18.2 nmol/nmol P450/min and the apparent Km was 90 microM. Cytochrome b5 was required for maximal activity. Human liver microsomes from 10 different donors, in which different P450 marker activities had been determined, were separately incubated with taurochenodeoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid. A strong correlation was found between 6alpha-hydroxylation of taurochenodeoxycholic acid, CYP3A levels (r2=0.97) and testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation (r2=0.9). There was also a strong correlation between 6alpha-hydroxylation of lithocholic acid, CYP3A levels and testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation (r2=0.7). Troleandomycin, a selective inhibitor of CYP3A enzymes, inhibited 6alpha-hydroxylation of taurochenodeoxycholic acid almost completely at a 10 microM concentration. Other inhibitors, such as alpha-naphthoflavone, sulfaphenazole and tranylcypromine had very little or no effect on the activity. The apparent Km for 6alpha-hydroxylation of taurochenodeoxycholic by human liver microsomes was high (716 microM). This might give an explanation for the limited formation of 6alpha-hydroxylated bile acids in healthy humans. From the present results, it can be concluded that CYP3A4 is active in the 6alpha-hydroxylation of both taurochenodeoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid in human liver.

Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A↗

Lithocholic acid and sulphated lithocholic acid differ in the ability to promote matrix metalloproteinase secretion in the human colon cancer cell line CaCo-2.

The human colon carcinoma cell line CaCo-2 has the ability to sulphate the secondary bile acid lithocholic acid (LA), whereas other primary or secondary bile acids were not sulphated [Halvorsen, Kase, Prydz, Gharagozlian, Andresen and Kolset (1999) Biochem. J. 343, 533--539]. To study the biological implications of this modification, CaCo-2 cells were incubated with either LA or sulphated lithocholic acid (3-sulpholithocholic acid, SLA), and in some experiments with taurine-conjugated lithocholic acid. Increased secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) correlates with transformation of colon epithelial cells. When CaCo-2 cells were incubated with LA, the secretion of MMP-2 was found to increase approx. 60% when analysed by gelatin zymography, and 80% when analysed by Western blotting. SLA, in contrast, did not affect the level of MMP-2 secretion, and after zymography the level of enzyme activity was 78% of control values after 18 h incubation. The secretion of MMPs is linked to increased cellular invasion and, in tumours, to increased capacity for metastasis. The ability of CaCo-2 cells to invade in a chamber assay was stimulated after exposure to LA, whereas SLA-treated cells did not differ from control cells. LA therefore seems to induce a more invasive CaCo-2 cell phenotype, as judged by the two parameters tested, whereas the sulphated counterpart, SLA, did not have these effects. Sulphation of LA in the colon may be an important mechanism to decrease the potential LA has to promote a malignant epithelial phenotype.

Bile Acids and Salts↗

Reduction of 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 beta-chol-6-en-24-oic acid to lithocholic acid in rats.

After [24-14C]delta 6-lithocholic acid was injected into the cecum of rats, [14C]lithocholic acid was identified as a metabolite in feces. When the labeled delta 6-bile acid was injected intraperitoneally into bile-fistula rats, radioactivity excreted in bile was contained most abundantly in the taurine-conjugated fraction of bile acids. In the fraction, taurine conjugate of [14C]delta 6-lithocholic acid but of neither [14C]lithocholic acid nor other bile acids was found. The results showed that [24-14C]delta 6-lithocholic acid was reduced to [14C]lithocholic acid by the intestinal flora but not by the liver, which, however, was capable of conjugating delta 6-lithocholic acid with taurine.

Animals↗

Photoaffinity labeling of human retinoid X receptor beta (RXRbeta) with 9-cis-retinoic acid: identification of phytanic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and lithocholic acid as ligands for RXRbeta.

We utilized [20-methyl-(3)H]-9-cis-retinoic acid ([(3)H]9-cis-RA) as a direct photoaffinity probe for the characterization of human recombinant retinoid X receptor beta protein (RXRbeta). The photoaffinity labeling was light- and concentration-dependent, saturable, and protected by unlabeled 9-cis-RA in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating that binding occurred in the RXR retinoid binding site. all-trans-Retinoic acid (atRA) did not affect labeling with the 9-cis derivative, confirming that atRA does not compete for the 9-cis-RA binding site. Several retinoid, fatty acid, and bile acid ligands were evaluated for their ability to recognize the 9-cis-RA binding site. Retinol, atRA glucuronide, 13-cis-RA, dolichol, 5,6-epoxy-RA, and vitamin D(3) did not compete for the 9-cis-RA binding site. However, the saturated diterpenoid phytanic acid (PA) and docosahexaenoic acid, which have been recently shown to activate the nuclear receptor, RXR, competed with 9-cis-RA labeling, showing high affinity for the 9-cis-RA binding site. Oleic acid, arachidonic acid, and butyric acid did not interact. However, the bile acid lithocholic acid competed efficiently with 9-cis-RA for the binding site. These data validated the photoaffinity assay as an excellent system for the identification and evaluation of ligands for RXR.

Alitretinoin↗

Characterization of the effects induced on DNA in mouse and hamster cells by lithocholic acid.

Lithocholic acid (LCA) is a promoting agent in colon carcinogenesis. In this work we have tried to characterize the DNA alteration induced by LCA in cells grown in vitro and in nuclei. Confirming previous findings, a clear increase in elution rate was observed at both alkaline and neutral pH. The extent of the increase was very similar at the two pHs. However, an increased elution rate could be observed only when lysing the nuclei at high ionic strength and low detergent concentration (2 M NaCl + 0.2% N-lauroylsarcosine sodium salt). No effect could be observed when the nuclei were lysed with a high detergent concentration (2% sodium dodecyl sulfate). In addition, a slight effect could be observed using a method for the evaluation of DNA unwinding in alkali. After termination of the incubation with LCA, the DNA alteration observed with DNA elution disappeared very rapidly both in intact cells and nuclei, even when the incubation buffer was totally unsuitable for the repair of the type of DNA damage induced by typical genotoxic agents. The effect of LCA on DNA was apparently not mediated through an inhibition of topoisomerase II. Only the intact chromatin of nuclei was responsive, not the quasinaked DNA of nuclei lysed at high ionic strength. We advance the hypothesis that the increased alkaline and neutral elution rate observed with LCA could be independent of DNA fragmentation and related to changes in chromatin structure.

Animals↗

Comparative hepatotoxicity of cholic acid, deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid in the rat: in vivo and in vitro studies.

Until now, the cytotoxicity of the bile acids was mostly seen as being inversely associated with their degree of lipophilicity. The present study aimed at comparing the hepatotoxicity of cholic acid (CA), deoxycholic acid (DCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA), which are respectively, tri-, di- and monohydroxylated bile acids. For in vivo studies, the bile acids have been given at the dose of 0.5% or 1% in the diet of male Wistar rats for 2 weeks. The histological analysis of the liver, and the measurement of serum parameters of cytotoxicity and cholestasis (aminotransferases activity, bilirubin and total bile acids concentration), indicate that, among the bile acids tested, DCA is the most hepatotoxic, at both doses, while CA is the least hepatotoxic and cholestatic compound. Moreover, DCA is the only bile acid which, when given at the dose of 0.5%, induces lipid peroxidation in the liver, as evidenced by the measurement of thiobarbituric reactive substances in liver homogenates. The analysis of bile acids in liver homogenates by gas liquid chromatography revealed that feeding the animals with DCA results in its hepatic accumulation. Feeding rats with LCA or CA only slightly modifies the proportion of tri-, di- and monohydroxylated bile acids in the liver, as compared to controls. An in vitro experiment aimed at studying the hepatocellular lysis induced in vitro by the three bile acids by measuring the release of lactate dehydrogenase in the incubation medium of surviving hepatocytes in suspension. At a concentration of 1 mM, only DCA induces a significant cellular lysis, while at this concentration the lytic effects of CA and LCA are progressive and time-dependent. From this study, we gather that the hepatotoxicity of bile acids does not necessarily depend on their degree of hydroxylation. Our results are in accordance with some studies in rat hepatocarcinogenesis, showing a predominant initiating and promoting effects of DCA, as compared to LCA.

Administration, Oral↗

Effects of 5 beta-chol-3-en-24-oic acid, and lithocholic acid and its sulfates on prostaglandin E2 output in perfusion of the rat colon.

The effects of bile salts on the output of prostaglandin E2(PGE2) were studied in rats by colonic perfusion. Bile salts and their concentrations in infusates were as follows; chenodeoxycholic acid sodium salt (CDCNa), sulfolithocholic acid disodium salt (SLCNa) and sulfotaurolithocholic acid disodium salt (STLCNa) were at 1 mmol/l, lithocholic acid sodium salt (LCNa) was at 0.6 mmol/l, 5 beta-chol-3-en-24-oic acid sodium salt (delta 3Na) was at 0.006 mmol/l, and sulfoglycolithocholic acid disodium salt (SGLCNa) was at 0.8 mmol/l. Median values of PGE2 outputs were 40.9, 52.4, 65.5, trace, 7.6, 9.8 and 9.8 pg/10 min/cm in the CDCNa, LCNa, delta 3Na, SLCNa, STLCNa, SGLCNa and control groups, respectively (control vs CDCNa, LCNa, delta 3Na, SLCNa group, p less than 0.01 by median test). There was such a dissociation in PGE2 output and electrolyte concentration in the perfusates that high concentration of Na+ and Cl- ions was observed only in the SGLCNa group (p less than 0.01 by t-test compared with the control group), whereas in the remainder of the groups substantial net movement of electrolytes and water was not observed. Light microscopy showed no evidence of morphological damage in any group. These results indicated that CDCNa, LCNa and delta 3Na increased PGE2 outputs in the colon at low concentration without functional or morphological changes.

Animals↗

Lithocholic acid decreases expression of UGT2B7 in Caco-2 cells: a potential role for a negative farnesoid X receptor response element.

Human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 2B7 is the major isoform catalyzing the glucuronidation of a variety of endogenous compounds including bile acids. To determine the role of bile acids in the regulation of UGT2B7 expression, Caco-2 cells were incubated with the natural human farnesoid X receptor (hFXR) ligand, chenodeoxycholic acid, as well as the secondary bile acid, lithocholic acid, derived from chenodeoxycholic acid. Incubation of Caco-2 cells with lithocholic acid in the absence of exogenous hFXR resulted in a dose-dependent down-regulation of UGT2B7 mRNA levels, with an IC(50) of 13 microM. Similar down-regulation was also observed with chenodeoxycholic acid; however, much higher concentrations were required. Transient transfection of Caco-2 cells with hFXR suppressed UGT2B7 mRNA expression both in the absence and presence of ligand. UGT2B7 promoter transfection experiments and deletion/mutation analysis showed that lithocholic acid-activated hFXR decreased UGT2B7 promoter activity via a negative hFXR response element (NFRE) located between nucleotides -148 and -134. Cotransfection with hFXR and/or human retinoid X receptor further enhanced the repression. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays additionally confirmed the role of NFRE in UGT2B7 down-regulation by lithocholic acid. These findings suggest that lithocholic acid, an activator of nuclear hFXR, acts as a negative regulator of UGT2B7 expression, indicating that hFXR may play an essential role in lithocholic acid homeostasis through negative regulation of this UGT that is involved in lithocholic acid biotransformation. Therefore, it is postulated that lithocholic acid toxicity may be due to down-regulation of genes involved in its detoxification, including UGT2B7, leading to limited excretion of lithocholic acid from the body.

Base Sequence↗

Quantitative determination of individual non-sulfated bile acids and sulfated lithocholic acid in serum by mass fragmentography.

Individual non-sulfated bile acids and sulfated lithocholic acid in serum were determined by mass fragmentography. A hexafluoroisopropyl ester-trifluoroacetyl derivative of bile acid was prepared by the method of Imai et al. (J. Chromatogr. 120, 181, 1976). Deuterium labeled deoxycholic acid was used as an internal standard monitoring at m/z 623. Lithocholic acid, deoxycholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid, and cholic acid were determined by monitoring the intensities of m/z 622, m/z 620, m/z 620, m/z 620, ad m/z 618, respectively. A serum sample of 200 microliters including 500 ng of internal standard was hydrolyzed with strong alkali, then acidified to pH 1 with 2N HCl under cooling on ice, and extracted with diethyl ether immediately. Ether extracts were derivatized without further purification. Besides this assay of non-sulfated bile acids, total serum lithocholic acid including the sulfated form was determined as follows: extraction was performed after mixing the acidified (pH 1 with 2 N HCl) hydrolysate with ether and incubation at 40 degrees C for 2 h. Bile acid peaks in the mass fragmentogram were not affected by other materials in these serum extracts. The average values of individual non-sulfated bile acids in sera from healthy fasting subjects (n=15) were as follows: lithocholic acid, 0.049 micrograms/ml; deoxycholic acid, 0.462 micrograms/ml; chenodeoxycholic acid, 0.671 micrograms/ml; ursodeoxycholic acid, 0.070 icrograms/ml; and cholic acid, 0.217 micrograms/ml. Total lithocholic acid (non-sulfated and sulfated) in sera was 0.166 microgram/ml.

Bile Acids and Salts↗

Proliferative effect of lithocholic acid on rat liver cell in culture.

In contrast to cholic acid, deoxycholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid, lithocholic acid (LCA) enhances the growth of rat liver cells in culture. Enhanced proliferation of LCA-treated rat liver cells persists even 12 days after LCA was removed. These findings could suggest a mutagenic effect of LCA, or a metabolite, on rat liver cells.

Animals↗

Selective activation of vitamin D receptor by lithocholic acid acetate, a bile acid derivative.

The vitamin D receptor (VDR), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, mediates the biological actions of the active form of vitamin D, 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3). It regulates calcium homeostasis, immunity, cellular differentiation, and other physiological processes. Recently, VDR was found to respond to bile acids as well as other nuclear receptors, farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR). The toxic bile acid lithocholic acid (LCA) induces its metabolism through VDR interaction. To elucidate the structure-function relationship between VDR and bile acids, we examined the effect of several LCA derivatives on VDR activation and identified compounds with more potent activity than LCA. LCA acetate is the most potent of these VDR agonists. It binds directly to VDR and activates the receptor with 30 times the potency of LCA and has no or minimal activity on FXR and PXR. LCA acetate effectively induced the expression of VDR target genes in intestinal cells. Unlike LCA, LCA acetate inhibited the proliferation of human monoblastic leukemia cells and induced their monocytic differentiation. We propose a docking model for LCA acetate binding to VDR. The development of VDR agonists derived from bile acids should be useful to elucidate ligand-selective VDR functions.

Animals↗