title: Sodium taurocholate affects prostacyclin constitutive production by cultured human vascular endothelial cells.
abstract: The prostaglandin system is impaired in cholestasis; bile salts, which are a specific biochemical feature of this condition, have been shown to affect functional properties of cells and tissues, and, in some cases, their action is mediated through an alteration of prostaglandin pathway. Endothelium is a privileged site for the production and the action of arachidonate metabolites-prostacyclin in particular. To determine the effects of bile salts on the properties of vascular endothelium, cultured human endothelial cells were studied. Cholic acid sodium salt was seen to induce a direct injury on endothelial cells, as was demonstrated by a massive dismission of the intracellular radiolabel chromium 51. In the absence of detectable toxic effect, sodium taurocholate caused a significant depression of prostacyclin constitutive production from human endothelial cells. The action of sodium taurocholate was related to its concentration and to the time of exposure, and the alteration of prostacyclin production was found to be reversible. Conversely, the generation of thromboxane A2 was not influenced by this bile salt, which may suggest a specific action of sodium taurocholate on arachidonic acid metabolism. These findings indicate that bile salts may directly alter some functional properties of cultured human endothelial cells and may provide a basis for explaining some generalized manifestations that are observed in pathologic conditions characterized by cholemia.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Medica Generale III, Dipartimento di Scienze cliniche e biologiche, Universitá di Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calcamuggi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lanzio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Babini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Anfossi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Emanuelli
mesh_terms: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D013656:Taurocholic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D013929:Thromboxane B2; D013928:Thromboxane A2; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D013656:Taurocholic Acid; D011464:Epoprostenol