Inhibition of cholesterol crystallization under bilirubin deconjugation: partial characterization of mechanisms whereby infected bile accelerates pigment stone formation

Redox-Responsive Efficient DNA and Drug Co-Release from Micelleplexes Formed from a Fluorescent Cationic Amphiphilic Polymer

Cationic polymeric micelles that are capable of co-releasing drugs and DNA into cells have attracted considerable interest as combination chemotherapy in cancer treatment. To this effect, we have presently developed a cationic fluorescent amphiphilic copolymer, poly(N,N'-dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate)-b-(poly(2-(methacryloyl)oxyethyl-2'-hydroxyethyl disulfidecholate)-r-2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl-1-pyrenebutyrate) [PDMAEMA-b-(PMAODCA-r-PPBA)], having pendent cholate moiety linked through a redox-responsive disulfide bond. The amphiphilic nature of the copolymer facilitated the formation of cationic micellar nanoparticles in aqueous medium. The self-assembly of the copolymer to form micelles and subsequent destabilization of the micelles in the presence of glutathione (GSH) was monitored by the change in the fluorescence characteristic of the attached pyrene resulting from alteration in the hydrophobicity of its neighborhood. These micellar nanoparticles were subsequently utilized in encapsulating hydrophobic anticancer drug, doxorubicin (DOX), in the core of the micelles, whereas the cationic shell of the micelles was used for complexation with oppositely charged DNA to form micelleplexes. Gel retardation assays, ethidium bromide (EB) exclusion assay, and DLS and AFM studies confirmed the successful binding of the cationic micelles with DNA. The binding capability of the micelles was higher than corresponding cationic linear PDMAEMA. The kinetics of the simultaneous release of encapsulated DOX and complexed DNA in the presence of glutathione was thoroughly studied using various techniques. All the experiments showed fast and efficient release of DOX and DNA from DOX-loaded micelleplexes. The study implies that these redox-responsive cationic micelles may open up new opportunities toward co-delivery of DNA and anticancer drugs in combinatorial therapy.

Optically Active Helical Polyacetylene Self-Assembled into Chiral Micelles Used As Nanoreactor for Helix-Sense-Selective Polymerization

Chiral micelles have been drawing ever-increasing attention because of their potentials in mimicking the unique stereochemical effects of enzymes. This article reports on the first success in preparing chiral micelles through self-assembly of helical polyacetylene bearing cholic acid pendants. The micelles were further used as chiral nanoreactor, in which achiral acetylenic monomer smoothly underwent helix-sense-selective polymerization (HSSP). The HSSPs directly established optically active core/shell nanoparticles whose shell and core both were constructed by helical polymers. The shells (or micelles) provided a protective effect for the preferably induced one-handed helical polymer chains in the cores. The present work provides insights into the self-assembly of chiral helical polymers, and also provides a powerful strategy for constructing novel chiral polymer nanoarchitectures.

Nanocomposite hydrogels of LAPONITE® mixed with polymers bearing dopamine and cholic acid pendants

A nanocomposite hydrogel system was formulated by mixing LAPONITE® with polymers bearing dopamine and cholic acid pendants.

Nutritional factors (nutritional aspects) in biliary disorders: bile acid and lipid metabolism in gallstone diseases and pancreaticobiliary maljunction

Nutritional factors play a key role in the pathogenesis of biliary diseases such as gallstones and pancreaticobiliary maljunction. Gallstones are primarily classified into cholesterol stone and pigment stone according to the major composition. Cholesterol gallstone formation is very likely based upon supersaturated bile formation, and pigment stones are formed in bile rich in bilirubin. Thus, defects of hepatic metabolism of lipids and organic anions lead to biliary stones. Here, the recent understanding of cholesterol gallstone pathogenesis is elaborated. On the other hand, there is another important link of biliary lipid degradation to serious biliary disease, namely pancreaticobiliary maljunction. Lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC), a derivative of phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis by phospholipase A2, is a highly abundant bioactive lipid mediator present in circulation as well as in bile. Increases in bile of lysoPC and phospholipase A2 have been reported in pancreaticobiliary maljunction and considered to be the major risk factor for biliary tract cancers. Further, oxidized fatty acids have been established as a potent ligand for G2A, a member of G protein-coupled receptor family that mediates a diverse array of biological processes including cell growth and apoptosis. Thus, both of lysoPC and free fatty acids are supposed to play an important role through G2A in biliary inflammation and carcinogenesis of pancreaticobiliary maljunction. Taken together, nutritional factors, especially lipid compounds, are seemingly crucial in the pathogenesis of biliary diseases, and such a causal relationship is reviewed by mainly authors' previous publications.

Does the bile duct angulation affect recurrence of choledocholithiasis?

AIM: To investigate whether bile duct angulation and T-tube choledochostomy influence the recurrence of choledocholithiasis.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study inclu-ding 259 patients who underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy and cholecystectomy for choledocholithiasis between 2000 and 2007. The imaginary line was drawn along the center of the bile duct and each internal angle was measured at the two angulation sites of the bile duct respectively. The values of both angles were added together. We then tested our hypothesis by examining whether T-tube choledochostomy was performed and stone recurrence occurred by reviewing each subject’s medical records.

RESULTS: The overall recurrence rate was 9.3% (24 of 259 patients). The mean value of sums of angles in the recurrence group was 268.3°± 29.6°, while that in the non-recurrence group was 314.8°± 19.9° (P < 0.05). Recurrence rate of the T-tube group was 15.9% (17 of 107), while that of the non T-tube group was 4.6% (7 of 152) (P < 0.05). Mean value of sums of angles after T-tube drainage was 262.5°± 24.6° and that before T-tube drainage was 298.0°± 23.9° in 22 patients (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The bile duct angulation and T-tube choledochostomy may be risk factors of recurrence of bile duct stones.

Thermodynamic origin of selective binding of β-cyclodextrin derivatives with chiral chromophoric substituents toward steroids

Two β-cyclodextrin derivatives with chiral chromophoric substituents, that is, L- (1) and D-tyrosine-modified β-cyclodextrin (2), were synthesized and fully characterized. Their inclusion modes, binding abilities, and molecular selectivities with four steroid guests, that is, cholic acid sodium salt (CA), deoxycholic acid sodium salt (DCA), glycochoic acid sodium salt (GCA), and taurocholic acid sodium salt (TCA), were investigated by the circular dichroism, 2D NMR, and isothermal titration microcalorimetry (ITC). The results obtained from the circular dichroism and 2D NMR showed that two hosts adopted the different binding geometry, and these differences subsequently resulted in the significant differences of molecular binding abilities and selectivities. As compared with native β-cyclodextrin and tryptophan-modified β-cyclodextrin, host 2 showed the enhanced binding abilities for CA and DCA but the decreased binding abilities for GCA and TCA; however, host 1 showed the decreased binding abilities for all four bile salts. The best guest selectivity and the best host selectivity were K(S)(2-DCA)/K(S)(2-TCA) = 12.6 and K(S)(2-CA)/K(S)(1-CA) = 10, respectively, both exhibiting great enhancement as compared with the corresponding values of the previously reported L- and D-tryptophan-modified β-cyclodextrins. Thermodynamically, it was the favorable enthalpic gain that led to the high guest selectivity and host selectivity.

Changes in the hepatic gene expression profile in a rat model of chronic ethanol treatment

The purpose of this study was to perform a comprehensive analysis of hepatic gene expression in a standard model of an alcohol-induced fatty liver using the cDNA microarray analysis. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups and were given either an ethanol diet (ED), or a control diet (CD) for eight weeks. The ED rats showed significantly elevated levels of plasma total and HDL cholesterol as well as hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride compared to the pair-fed control rats. Among the 5185 genes on the rat cDNA microarray used in the current study, 74 genes were up-regulated and 108 genes were down-regulated greater than 2.0-fold in the liver of ED rats compared with those in the CD rats. The microarray results were verified by conducting real-time RT-PCR on the fourteen selected genes with varied expression ratios. After clustering the regulated genes based on their biological function, it was found that chronic ethanol consumption regulated mainly the genes implicated in the processes of signal transduction, transcription, immune response, and protein/amino acid metabolism. The microarray results obtained in this study revealed, for the first time, that several genes, including beta-glucuronidase, UDP-glycosyltransferase 1, UDP-glucose dehydrogenase, apoC-III, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor, were regulated by chronic ethanol exposure in the rat liver.

Secondary assembly of bile salts mediated by β-cyclodextrin–terbium(III) complex

A fluorescent cyclodextrin-Tb(III) complex is successfully synthesized and can include bile salts in its hydrophobic cavities. Therefore, it can efficiently induce the secondary assembly of small bile salt primary micelles to large micelle aggregates, and the aggregation process can be easily observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and fluorescence microscopy.

Opisthorchiasis-associated biliary stones: Light and scanning electron microscopic study

AIM: Biliary stones are frequently encountered in areas endemic for opisthorchiasis in Thailand. The present study was to describe the prevalence and pathogenesis of these stones.

METHODS: Gallstones and/or common bile duct stones and bile specimens from 113 consecutive cholecystectomies were included. Bile samples, including sludge and/or microcalculi, were examined for Opisthorchisviverrini eggs, calcium and bilirubin. The stones were also processed for scanning electron microscopic (SEM) study.

RESULTS: Of the 113 cases, 82 had pigment stones, while one had cholesterol stones. The other 30 cases had no stones. Most of the stone cases (76%, 63/83) had multiple stones, while the remainder had a single stone. Stones were more frequently observed in females. Bile examination was positive for O.viverrini eggs in 50% of the cases studied. Aggregates of calcium bilirubinate precipitates were observed in all cases with sludge. Deposition of calcium bilirubinate on the eggshell was visualized by special staining. A SEM study demonstrated the presence of the parasite eggs in the stones. Numerous crystals, morphologically consistent with calcium derivatives and cholesterol precipitates, were seen.

CONCLUSION: Northeast Thailand has a high prevalence of pigment stones, as observed at the cholecystectomy, and liver fluke infestation seems involved in the pathogenesis of stone formation.