Adaptive regulation of the ileal apical sodium dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) in patients with obstructive cholestasis.

Hruz, Petz; Zimmermann, Christian; Gutmann, Heike; Degen, Lukas; Beuers, Ulrich; Terracciano, Luigi; Drewe, Jürgen and Beglinger, Christoph (2005): Adaptive regulation of the ileal apical sodium dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) in patients with obstructive cholestasis. In: Gut, Vol. 55, No. 3: pp. 395-402

Abstract

Background/Aims The apical sodium dependent bile acid transporter ASBT (SLC10A2) contributes substantially to the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids by their reabsorption from the intestine. In the rat, its adaptive regulation was observed in the kidneys, cholangiocytes and terminal ileum after bile duct ligation. Whether an adaptive regulation of the human intestinal ASBT exists during obstructive cholestasis is not known. Methods Human ASBT mRNA expression along the intestinal tract was analyzed by real time PCR in biopsies of 14 control subjects undergoing both gastroscopy and colonoscopy. Their duodenal ASBT mRNA expression was compared to 20 patients with obstructive cholestasis. Additionally, in 4 patients with obstructive cholestasis, duodenal ASBT mRNA expression was measured after reconstitution of bile flow. Results Normalized ASBT expression in control subjects was highest (mean arbitrary units± SEM) in the terminal ileum 1010 ± 330. Low ASBT expression was found in the colonic segments (8.3±5, 4.9±0.9, 4.8±1.7 and 1.1±0.2, ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid colon, respectively). Duodenal ASBT expression of control subjects was found with 171.8±20.3 at about four fold higher levels when compared to 37.9±6.5 (p<0.0001) in patients with obstructive cholestasis. Individual ASBT mRNA expression was inversely correlated with bile acid and bilirubin plasma concentrations. In 4 cholestatic patients average ASBT mRNA increased from 76±18 before to 113±18 after relief of cholestasis (NS). Immunohistochemical assessment indicates that ASBT protein is expressed on the apical surface of the duodenal epithelial cells. Conclusion Obstructive cholestasis in humans leads to down-regulation of ASBT mRNA expression in the distal part of the human duodenum.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Form of publication: Publisher's Version
• Keywords: cholestasis, asbt, transporter, bile acids
• Faculties: Medicine
• Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health
• Alliance/National Licence: This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.
• Language: English