Bilirubin, an old tetrapyrrolic compound that had occurred on Earth early on, is the final product of the catabolic heme pathway in the intravascular bed. Data from recent decades revealed its enormous bioactivity in a human body, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, antiproliferative, and even cell signaling activities that translate into beneficial effects of mildly elevated serum bilirubin concentrations resulting in prevention or amelioration of progression of many diseases of civilization. Furthermore, recent advances in bilirubin research have changed our understanding of bilirubin metabolism in the neonatal period, with discoveries of bilirubin reductase of bacterial origin in the intestinal lumen with direct pathophysiological and clinical implications. Similarly, our knowledge of the pathophysiology of neonatal jaundice phototherapy has improved substantially, although we are still at the beginning of the path to understand all the pathophysiological aspects and reveal related clinical implications. BULLET POINTS: Recent advances in our understanding of bilirubin metabolism with clear clinical implications, as well as other, so far putative, translational impacts. Demonstration of the beneficial biological potential of bilirubin, its evolutionary and ontogenetic functions, its possible role in chronobiology, and its correlation with increased fitness in elite athletes (a sort of gain of function). Discussion on the protective role of physiological neonatal jaundice. Inspiration for further basic and clinical research in specific fields of bilirubin metabolism.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Bilirubin has several physiological functions, both beneficial and harmful. In addition to reactive oxygen species-scavenging activities, bilirubin has potent immunosuppressive effects associated with long-term pathophysiological sequelae. It has been recently recognized as a hormone with endocrine actions and interconnected effects on various cellular signaling pathways. Current studies show that bilirubin also decreases adiposity and prevents metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. All in all, the physiological importance of bilirubin is only now coming to light, and strategies for increasing plasma bilirubin levels to combat chronic diseases are starting to be considered. This review discusses the beneficial effects of increasing plasma bilirubin, incorporates emerging areas of bilirubin biology, and provides key concepts to advance the field.

• Klíčová slova
• BVRA, Blvra, HO-1, Hmox1, bilirubin, cardiovascular disease, cell signaling, heme oxygenase, metabolism, nuclear receptors,
• MeSH
• bilirubin * metabolismus   farmakologie   MeSH
• hemoxygenasa-1 metabolismus   MeSH
• kardiovaskulární nemoci * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• reaktivní formy kyslíku metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Názvy látek
• bilirubin * MeSH
• hemoxygenasa-1 MeSH
• reaktivní formy kyslíku MeSH

Arthrospira platensis, a blue-green alga, is a popular nutraceutical substance having potent antioxidant properties with potential anti-carcinogenic activities. The aim of our study was to assess the possible anti-angiogenic effects of A platensis in an experimental model of pancreatic cancer. The effects of an A platensis extract were investigated on human pancreatic cancer cells (PA-TU-8902) and immortalized endothelial-like cells (Ea.hy926). PA-TU-8902 pancreatic tumours xenografted to athymic mice were also examined. In vitro migration and invasiveness assays were performed on the tested cells. Multiple angiogenic factors and signalling pathways were analysed in the epithelial, endothelial and cancer cells, and tumour tissue. The A platensis extract exerted inhibitory effects on both migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer as well as endothelial-like cells. Tumours of mice treated with A platensis exhibited much lesser degrees of vascularization as measured by CD31 immunostaining (P = .004). Surprisingly, the VEGF-A mRNA and protein expressions were up-regulated in pancreatic cancer cells. A platensis inhibited ERK activation upstream of Raf and suppressed the expression of ERK-regulated proteins. Treatment of pancreatic cancer with A platensis was associated with suppressive effects on migration and invasiveness with various anti-angiogenic features, which might account for the anticancer effects of this blue-green alga.

• Klíčová slova
• Arthrospira platensis, angiogenesis, anticancer effects, carcinogenesis, pancreatic cancer,
• MeSH
• antioxidancia farmakologie   MeSH
• endoteliální buňky účinky léků   MeSH
• inhibitory angiogeneze farmakologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• myši nahé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádory slinivky břišní farmakoterapie   MeSH
• patologická angiogeneze farmakoterapie   MeSH
• pohyb buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• protinádorové látky farmakologie   MeSH
• signální transdukce účinky léků   MeSH
• Spirulina chemie   MeSH
• upregulace účinky léků   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antioxidancia MeSH
• inhibitory angiogeneze MeSH
• protinádorové látky MeSH

Bilirubin is considered to be one of the most potent endogenous antioxidants in humans. Its serum concentrations are predominantly affected by the activity of hepatic bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyl transferase (UGT1A1). Our objective was to analyze the potential bilirubin-modulating effects of natural polyphenols from milk thistle (Silybum marianum), a hepatoprotective herb. Human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells were exposed to major polyphenolic compounds isolated from milk thistle. Based on in vitro studies, 2,3-dehydrosilybins A and B were selected as the most efficient compounds and applied either intraperitoneally or orally for seven days to C57BL/6 mice. After, UGT1A1 mRNA expression, serum, intrahepatic bilirubin concentrations, and lipoperoxidation in the liver tissue were analyzed. All natural polyphenols used increased intracellular concentration of bilirubin in HepG2 cells to a similar extent as atazanavir, a known bilirubinemia-enhancing agent. Intraperitoneal application of 2,3-dehydrosilybins A and B (the most efficient flavonoids from in vitro studies) to mice (50 mg/kg) led to a significant downregulation of UGT1A1 mRNA expression (46 ± 3% of controls, p < 0.005) in the liver and also to a significant increase of the intracellular bilirubin concentration (0.98 ± 0.03vs.1.21 ± 0.02 nmol/mg, p < 0.05). Simultaneously, a significant decrease of lipoperoxidation (61 ± 2% of controls, p < 0.005) was detected in the liver tissue of treated animals, and similar results were also observed after oral treatment. Importantly, both application routes also led to a significant elevation of serum bilirubin concentrations (125 ± 3% and 160 ± 22% of the controls after intraperitoneal and oral administration, respectively, p < 0.005 in both cases). In conclusion, polyphenolic compounds contained in silymarin, in particular 2,3-dehydrosilybins A and B, affect hepatic and serum bilirubin concentrations, as well as lipoperoxidation in the liver. This phenomenon might contribute to the hepatoprotective effects of silymarin.

• MeSH
• bilirubin metabolismus   MeSH
• buňky Hep G2 MeSH
• flavonoidy chemie   izolace a purifikace   farmakologie   MeSH
• glukuronosyltransferasa genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• hemoxygenasa-1 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• intracelulární prostor metabolismus   MeSH
• játra účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• messenger RNA genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
• peroxidace lipidů účinky léků   MeSH
• regulace genové exprese enzymů účinky léků   MeSH
• silibinin aplikace a dávkování   farmakologie   MeSH
• silymarin izolace a purifikace   farmakologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• bilirubin MeSH
• flavonoidy MeSH
• glukuronosyltransferasa MeSH
• hemoxygenasa-1 MeSH
• HMOX1 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• messenger RNA MeSH
• silibinin MeSH
• silymarin MeSH
• UGT1A1 enzyme MeSH Prohlížeč

Hyperbilirubinemia has been presumed to prevent the process of atherogenesis and cancerogenesis mainly by decreasing oxidative stress. Dubin-Johnson syndrome is a rare, autosomal recessive, inherited disorder characterized by biphasic, predominantly conjugated hyperbilirubinemia with no progression to end-stage liver disease. The molecular basis in Dubin-Johnson syndrome is absence or deficiency of human canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter MRP2/cMOAT caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutation(s) in ABCC2 located on chromosome 10q24. Clinical onset of the syndrome is most often seen in the late teens or early adulthood. In this report, we describe a case of previously unrecognized Dubin-Johnson syndrome caused by two novel pathogenic mutations (c.2360_2366delCCCTGTC and c.3258+1G>A), coinciding with cholestatic liver disease in an 82-year-old male patient. The patient, suffering from advanced atherosclerosis with serious involvement of coronary arteries, developed colorectal cancer with nodal metastases. The subsequent findings do not support the protective role of Dubin-Johnson type hyperbilirubinemia.

• Klíčová slova
• ABCC2, Atherosclerosis, Cancer, Dubin-Johnson syndrome, Hyperbilirubinemia, Oxidative stress,
• MeSH
• adenokarcinom komplikace   sekundární   MeSH
• biopsie MeSH
• fatální výsledek MeSH
• genetická predispozice k nemoci MeSH
• imunohistochemie MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lymfatické metastázy MeSH
• mutace MeSH
• mutační analýza DNA MeSH
• nádory tračníku komplikace   patologie   MeSH
• nemoci koronárních tepen komplikace   diagnóza   MeSH
• prognóza MeSH
• protein spojený s mnohočetnou rezistencí k lékům 2 MeSH
• proteiny spojené s mnohočetnou rezistencí k lékům genetika   MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• žloutenka chronická idiopatická komplikace   diagnóza   genetika   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• kazuistiky MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• ABCC2 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• protein spojený s mnohočetnou rezistencí k lékům 2 MeSH
• proteiny spojené s mnohočetnou rezistencí k lékům MeSH