Biomaterial Database

Pathogenesis of gallstones. 2010

Niels Gerard Venneman, and Karel Johannes van Erpecum

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Cholesterol gallstone formation is a complex process and involves phase separation of cholesterol crystals from supersaturated bile. In most cases, cholesterol hypersecretion is considered the primary event in gallstone formation. The sterol is transported through the hepatocytic canalicular membrane by ABCG5-G8. Expression of this transport protein is regulated by transcription factor Liver X Receptor-alpha, which may be responsible for biliary hypersecretion. Hydrophobic bile salt pool, bile concentration, excess pronucleating mucin, and impaired gallbladder and intestinal motility are secondary phenomena in most cases but nevertheless may contribute to gallstone formation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008074	Lipoproteins	Lipid-protein complexes involved in the transportation and metabolism of lipids in the body. They are spherical particles consisting of a hydrophobic core of TRIGLYCERIDES and CHOLESTEROL ESTERS surrounded by a layer of hydrophilic free CHOLESTEROL; PHOSPHOLIPIDS; and APOLIPOPROTEINS. Lipoproteins are classified by their varying buoyant density and sizes.	Circulating Lipoproteins,Lipoprotein,Lipoproteins, Circulating
D002784	Cholesterol	The principal sterol of all higher animals, distributed in body tissues, especially the brain and spinal cord, and in animal fats and oils.	Epicholesterol
D003460	Crystallization	The formation of crystalline substances from solutions or melts. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Crystalline Polymorphs,Polymorphism, Crystallization,Crystal Growth,Polymorphic Crystals,Crystal, Polymorphic,Crystalline Polymorph,Crystallization Polymorphism,Crystallization Polymorphisms,Crystals, Polymorphic,Growth, Crystal,Polymorph, Crystalline,Polymorphic Crystal,Polymorphisms, Crystallization,Polymorphs, Crystalline
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000071018	ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 5	ATP BINDING CASSETTE TRANSPORTER, SUBFAMILY G protein that functions as a heterodimer with ATP BINDING CASSETTE TRANSPORTER, SUBFAMILY G, MEMBER 8 in the selective transport of DIETARY CHOLESTEROL and PHYTOSTEROLS into and export out of ENTEROCYTES. It also functions in selective sterol excretion by the liver into bile.	ABCG5 Protein,ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family G, Member 5,Sterolin-1 Protein,Sterolin 1 Protein
D000071019	ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 8	ATP-binding cassette transporter, sub-family G protein that functions as a heterodimer with ATP BINDING CASSETTE TRANSPORTER, SUBFAMILY G, MEMBER 5 in the selective transport of DIETARY CHOLESTEROL and PHYTOSTEROLS into and export out of ENTEROCYTES. It also functions in selective sterol excretion by the liver into bile.	ABCG8 Protein,ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family G, Member 8,Sterolin-2 Protein,Sterolin 2 Protein
D001647	Bile Acids and Salts	Steroid acids and salts. The primary bile acids are derived from cholesterol in the liver and usually conjugated with glycine or taurine. The secondary bile acids are further modified by bacteria in the intestine. They play an important role in the digestion and absorption of fat. They have also been used pharmacologically, especially in the treatment of gallstones.	Bile Acid,Bile Salt,Bile Salts,Bile Acids,Acid, Bile,Acids, Bile,Salt, Bile,Salts, Bile
D001657	Biliary Dyskinesia	A motility disorder characterized by biliary COLIC, absence of GALLSTONES, and an abnormal GALLBLADDER ejection fraction. It is caused by gallbladder dyskinesia and/or SPHINCTER OF ODDI DYSFUNCTION.	Gallbladder Dyskinesia,Biliary Dyskinesias,Dyskinesia, Biliary,Dyskinesia, Gallbladder,Dyskinesias, Biliary,Dyskinesias, Gallbladder,Gallbladder Dyskinesias
D001692	Biological Transport	The movement of materials (including biochemical substances and drugs) through a biological system at the cellular level. The transport can be across cell membranes and epithelial layers. It also can occur within intracellular compartments and extracellular compartments.	Transport, Biological,Biologic Transport,Transport, Biologic
D013261	Sterols	Steroids with a hydroxyl group at C-3 and most of the skeleton of cholestane. Additional carbon atoms may be present in the side chain. (IUPAC Steroid Nomenclature, 1987)	Sterol