Document Detail


Gender differences in cholesterol nucleation in native bile: estrogen is a potential contributory factor.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19898891     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The incidence of gallstone disease is two to three times higher in women than in men, and female sex hormones, particularly estrogens, have been implicated as contributory factors. Cholesterol nucleation is the initial step in gallstone pathogenesis and proceeds from cholesterol-rich phospholipid vesicles. The aim of this study was to investigate if there is a difference in cholesterol nucleation rates in male and female bile and whether estrogen influences nucleation rates by interacting with cholesterol-rich regions known as "lipid rafts" that exist within the cholesterol-phospholipid vesicles of the bile. Cholesterol nucleation from native prairie dog bile and the interaction of estrogens with lipid rafts in model bile solutions were investigated using F?rster resonance energy transfer (FRET). Female native bile samples showed a greater reduction in energy transfer than did male native bile, indicating that cholesterol nucleation occurred more readily in female bile than in male bile. Model bile experiments demonstrated that the addition of estrogen has a significant effect, either cholesterol nucleation or raft disruption, but only in samples containing cholesterol-rich rafts. These results suggest that estrogen interacts with cholesterol-rich rafts in vesicles within bile to promote cholesterol nucleation and predispose females to gallstone formation.
Authors:
Angela C Brown; Steven P Wrenn; Nandita Suresh; William C Meyers; Mohammad Z Abedin
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2009-11-07
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of membrane biology     Volume:  232     ISSN:  1432-1424     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Membr. Biol.     Publication Date:  2009 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-01-21     Completed Date:  2010-03-23     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0211301     Medline TA:  J Membr Biol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  35-45     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Bile / metabolism*
Cholelithiasis / etiology*
Cholesterol / metabolism*
Estrogens / physiology*
Female
Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer
Male
Membrane Microdomains / physiology
Models, Animal
Sciuridae
Sex Characteristics
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Estrogens; 57-88-5/Cholesterol

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Genetic aspects of cognitive abilities across the life span.
Next Document:  Selenium Modulates Oxidative Stress-Induced Cell Apoptosis in Human Myeloid HL-60 Cells Through Regu...