The Prerequisites for Local Lysolecithin Formation in the Human Gallbladder

Abstract

Sjödahl, R. & Tagesson, C. The prerequisites for local lysolecithin formation in the human gallbladder. Scant!. J. Gaslroenl. 1975, 10, 459-463.

Human gallbladder epithelium was disintegrated to complete loss of microscopic structure. The material obtained - an extract - was incubated at 37 °C together with a mixture of lecithin and lysolecithin, phospholipids known to be present in bile. During such incubation a change in the phospholipid composition occurred, indicating that lecithin was converted to lyso-lechitin. This conversion increased in the presence of CaCb. Heating the disintegrated epithelium (70 °C for 10 min at pH 4) considerably increased the phospholipid conversion. The results are consistent with the presence of phos-pholipase A activity in human gallbladder epithelium. The possible significance of this activity is discussed in view of the inflammation-mediating activity of lysolecithin in the gallbladder epithelium.

Key-words::

• Acute aseptic cholecystitis
• bile phospholipids
• gallbladder epithelium
• lecithin hydrolysis
• phospholipase A