title: Molecular bases of the fetal liver-placenta-maternal liver excretory pathway for cholephilic compounds.
abstract: Potentially toxic endogenous compounds, such as bile acids (BAs) and biliary pigments, as well as many xenobiotics, such as drugs and food components, are biotransformed and eliminated by the hepatobiliary system with the collaboration of the kidney. However, the situation is very different during pregnancy because the fetal liver produces biliary compounds despite the fact that this organ, owing to its immaturity, is not able to eliminate them into bile. Moreover, the excretory ability of the fetal kidneys is also very limited. Thus, during the intra-uterine life, the major route to eliminate fetal BAs and biliary pigments is their transfer to the mother across the placenta. The maternal liver and, to a lesser extent, the maternal kidney, are then in charge of their biotransformation and elimination into faeces and urine respectively. This review describes current knowledge of the machinery responsible for the detoxification and excretion of cholephilic compounds through the pathway formed by the fetal liver-placenta-maternal liver trio.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEFARM), CIBERehd, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain. jjgmarin@usal.es
authors.forename: Jose J G
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Marin
authors.forename: Rocio I R
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Macias
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Briz
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Alba G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Blazquez
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arrese
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Serrano
mesh_terms: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism*; D001654:Bile Pigments / Q000378:metabolism*; D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000502:physiology; D001711:Biotransformation; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000502:physiology*; D008967:Molecular Biology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D001654:Bile Pigments