The Mechanism Whereby Bile Acid Micelles Increase the Rate of Fatty Acid and Cholesterol Uptake Into the Intestinal Mucosal Cell
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The mechanism whereby bile acid micelles increase the rate of fatty acid and cholesterol uptake into the intestinal mucosal cell. H Westergaard, J M Dietschy J Clin Invest. 1976;58(1):97-108. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI108465. Research Article Studies were undertaken to define the mechanism whereby bile acid facilitates fatty acid and cholesterol uptake into the intestinal mucosal cell. Initial studies showed that the rate of uptake (Jd) of several fatty acids and cholesterol was a linear function of the concentration of these molecules in the bulk phase if the concentration of bile acid was kept constant. In contrast, Jd decreased markedly when the concentration of bile acid was increased relative to that of the probe molecule but remained essentially constant when the concentration of both the bile acid and probe molecule was increased in parallel. In other studies Jd for lauric acid measured from solutions containing either 0 or 20 mM taurodeoxycholate and saturated with the fatty acid equaled 79.8+/-5.2 and 120.8+/-9.4 nmol.min(-1).100 mg(-1), respectively: after correction for unstirred layer resistance, however, the former value equaled 113.5+/-7.1 nmol.min(- 1).100 mg(-1). Maximum values of Jd for the saturated fatty acids with 12, 16, and 18 carbons equaled 120.8+/-9.4, 24.1+/-3.2, and 13.6+/-1.1 nmol.min(-1).100 mg(-1), respectively. These values essentially equaled those derived by multiplying the maximum solubility times the passive permeability coefficients appropriate for each of these compounds. The theoretical equations were then derived that define the expected behavior of Jd for the various lipids under these different experimental circumstances where the mechanism of absorption was assumed to occur either by […] Find the latest version: https://jci.me/108465/pdf The Mechanism Whereby Bile Acid Micelles Increase the Rate of Fatty Acid and Cholesterol Uptake into the Intestinal Mucosal Cell HEmN WESTEGAABD and JoHN M. DImrsCmY From the Gastrointestinal-Liver Section of the Department of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75235 A B s T R A C T Studies were undertaken to define the phase of lipid molecules in equilibrium with the micelle. mechanism whereby bile acid facilitates fatty acid and The experimental results were consistent both qualita- cholesterol uptake into the intestinal mucosal cell. Initial tively and quantitatively with the third model indicating studies showed that the rate of uptake (Jd) of several that the principle role of the micelle in facilitating lipid fatty acids and cholesterol was a linear function of the absorption is to overcome unstirred layer resistance concentration of these molecules in the bulk phase if the while the actual process of fatty acid and cholesterol concentration of bile acid was kept constant. In contrast, absorption occurs through a monomer phase in equi- Jd decreased markedly when the concentration of bile librium with the micelle. acid was increased relative to that of the probe molecule but remained essentially constant when the concentra- INTRODUCTION tion of both the bile acid and probe molecule was in- In various studies carried out in animals as well as in creased in parallel. In other studies Jd for lauric acid man it has been demonstrated that bile acids an measured from solutions containing either 0 or 20 mM play in the of taurodeoxycholate and saturated with the fatty acid important rol-e facilitating absorption various equaled 79.8±5.2 and 120.8±9.4 100 dietary fats by the gastrointestinal tract. There are nmol[min-' mg1, in the respectively: after correction for unstirred layer resist- quantitative differences, however, dependency of various lipids on the presence of these ance, however, the former value equaled nmol micelle-forming 113.5±7.1 of medium chain min-' 100 mg-'. Maximum values of Jd for the saturated compounds. Fatty acids length, for example, are absorbed as well in the absence as fatty acids with 12, 16, and 18 carbons equaled 120.8±9.4, nearly in the presence of bile acid micelles. As the chain length 24.1±3.2, and 13.6±+1.1 nmol min-' 100 mg-', respec- is increased the become more tively. These values essentially equaled those derived fatty acids progressively the of the bile acid micelle by multiplying the maximum solubility times the passive dependent upon presence for efficient uptake into the mucosal in the case permeability coefficients appropriate for each of these cell, and, of very such as essen- compounds. The theoretical equations were then derived nonpolar compounds cholesterol, no occurs in the absence of bile acids that define the expected behavior of Jd for the various tially absorption considerable work in area there is lipids under these different experimental circumstances (1-5). Despite this little information with the exact mecha- where the mechanism of absorption was assumed to oc- currently dealing nism(s) whereby the bile acid micelle enhances cur either by uptake of the whole micelle, during inter- actually the rate of into the intestinal mucosal cell. action of the micelle with an infinite number of sites lipid uptake However, the recent observation that an unstirred water on the microvillus membrane or through a monomer layer adjacent to the luminal cell surface, and not the Dr. Westergaard was a postdoctoral research fellow in microvillus membrane, is actually rate limiting to the gastroenterology while these studies were undertaken. His uptake of long chain fatty acids and steroids (6, 7) current address is Medical Department P, University Hos- raises the possibility that the major physiological func- pital, DK-2100 Copenhagen 0, Denmark. Received for publication 19 August 1975 and in revised tion of the bile acid micelle is to overcome this resist- form 2 March 1976. ance and so augment lipid absorption. The Journal of Clinical Investigation Volume 58 July 1976 97-108 97 It is equally unclear how the individual lipid molecules to be used for determination of tissue uptake rates. The carried in the micelle are actually transferred into the distribution of C" on thin-layer chromatography of the entire fatty acids was the same before and after these preparations. mucosal cell. Earlier workers postulated that the Measurement of tissue uptake. Tissue uptake rates of micellar particle might be taken up into the intestinal fatty acids, cholesterol, and taurodeoxycholate were deter- cell intact (8, 9). However, more recent work from mined with a technique which has been described in detail several laboratories has shown that the various constitu- (15). Briefly, unfasted albino New Zealand rabbits weigh- ent molecules carried in the micelle are absorbed at ap- ing 2-2.5 kg were killed by decapitation, and a 15-20-cm portion of the proximal jejunum was removed. The intestine parently independent rates suggesting that uptake must was rinsed, cut in circular pieces, and mounted in chambers occur by some other mechanism (10-12). The two most that expose 0.78 cm' of the mucosal surface to the incuba- likely alternative possibilities are that molecular transfer tion solutions. The mounted tissue preparations were kept at occurs via an intermediate, obligatory monomer phase 4°C in oxygenated Krebs-bicarbonate buffer until used in the cell mem- various studies. At the start of an experiment the chambers or that transfer takes place directly into the were transferred to preincubation beakers with oxygenated brane during "collision" or interaction between the Krebs-bicarbonate buffer at 37°C to equilibrate the tissue micelle and the lipid-protein phase of the microvillus for 8 min at this temperature. The chambers were then membrane. transferred to the incubation beakers containing the ["C] the is two- probe molecule and ['H] dextran and incubated for the The purpose of present study, therefore, desired length of time. The preincubation and incubation fold. First, experiments are described that define in both buffers were all maintained at pH 7.40, and solutions were qualitative and quantitative terms the manner in which stirred at identical stirring rates with circular magnetic bars. the bile acid micelle facilitates lipid absorption. Second, In all studies the stirring rate was kept constant at 600 rpm other studies are presented that allow differentiation as using a strobe light (7, 15). At the end of the incubation the chambers were removed from the solutions, and the to which mechanism is operative during the actual tissue was briefly rinsed in cold 0.9% NaCl solution. The transfer of lipid molecules from the bile acid micelle into exposed tissue was then cut out, divided into two pieces, the intestinal mucosal cell. and placed in tared scintillation vials. The tissue was dried overnight to determine dry weight and was then saponified METHODS with NaOH. Scintillation fluid was added and radioactivity was determined by means of an external standardization Chemicals. Unlabeled and [1-"C] long chain fatty acids, technique to correct for variable quenching of the two iso- unlabeled and [4-"C] cholesterol and unlabeled f-sitosterol topes (16). The rate of uptake, (Jd),' was calculated after were all > 99% pure as supplied by Applied Science Labs, the total ["C] radioactivity had been corrected for the Inc., State College, Pa. Unlabeled taurodeoxycholic acid amount of the probe molecule present in the adherent mu- was from Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo. and [24-"C] cosal fluid volume. These rates are expressed as the nano- sodium taurodeoxycholate was from Mallinckrodt Inc., St. moles of the probe molecule taken up into the mucosal cells Louis, Mo. The purity of these compounds was > 98% as per minute per 100 mg of dry tissue weight (nmol.min-' 100 checked by thin layer chromatography (13, 14). Glucose mg-') was obtained from J.