Bilirubin Formation and Excretion
BILIRUBIN FORMATION AND EXCRETION
Bilirubin, the principal pigment in bile, is derived from the breakdown of hemoglobin when aged red blood cells are phagocytized by the reticuloendothelial system, primarily in the spleen, liver and bone marrow. About 80% of bilirubin formed daily comes from the degradation of hemoglobin. The remainder comes from destruction of heme-containing proteins and catabolism of heme.
When hemoglobin is destroyed, the protein portion, globin is reused in the body. The porphyrin is broken down as a waste product and excreted. This action of splitting the porphyrin ring and releasing the iron globin forms biliverdin, which is easily reduced to bilirubin.
Bilirubin is transported to the liver in the bloodstream bound to proteins, chiefly albumin. It is then separated from the albumin and taken up by the hepatic cells. Two nonalbumin proteins, isolated from the liver cell cytoplasm and designated Y and Z, account for the intracellular binding and transport of bilirubin. The conjugation of bilirubin occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum of the hepatocyte. An enzyme, uridyldiphosphate glucuronyl transferase(UDPGT), transfers a glucuronic acid molecule to each of the two proprionic acid side chains in bilirubin, converting bilirubin into a diglucuronide ester. This product, bilirubin diglucuronide, is referred to as Conjugated Bilirubin.
Conjugated Bilirubin,which is water soluble, is secreted from the hepatic cell into the bile canaliculi and then passes along with the rest of the bile into larger bile ducts and eventually into the intestine.
In the lower portion of the intestinal tract, especially the colon, the bile pigments are acted on by enzymes present in the intestinal bacteria. The first product of the reaction is mesobilirubin, which is reduced to form mesobilirubinogen and then urobilinogen, a colorless product.
The oxidation of urobilinogen produces the red-brown pigment urobilin, which is excreted in the stool. A small
Bilirubin, the principal pigment in bile, is derived from the breakdown of hemoglobin when aged red blood cells are phagocytized by the reticuloendothelial system, primarily in the spleen, liver and bone marrow. About 80% of bilirubin formed daily comes from the degradation of hemoglobin. The remainder comes from destruction of heme-containing proteins and catabolism of heme.
When hemoglobin is destroyed, the protein portion, globin is reused in the body. The porphyrin is broken down as a waste product and excreted. This action of splitting the porphyrin ring and releasing the iron globin forms biliverdin, which is easily reduced to bilirubin.
Bilirubin is transported to the liver in the bloodstream bound to proteins, chiefly albumin. It is then separated from the albumin and taken up by the hepatic cells. Two nonalbumin proteins, isolated from the liver cell cytoplasm and designated Y and Z, account for the intracellular binding and transport of bilirubin. The conjugation of bilirubin occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum of the hepatocyte. An enzyme, uridyldiphosphate glucuronyl transferase(UDPGT), transfers a glucuronic acid molecule to each of the two proprionic acid side chains in bilirubin, converting bilirubin into a diglucuronide ester. This product, bilirubin diglucuronide, is referred to as Conjugated Bilirubin.
Conjugated Bilirubin,which is water soluble, is secreted from the hepatic cell into the bile canaliculi and then passes along with the rest of the bile into larger bile ducts and eventually into the intestine.
In the lower portion of the intestinal tract, especially the colon, the bile pigments are acted on by enzymes present in the intestinal bacteria. The first product of the reaction is mesobilirubin, which is reduced to form mesobilirubinogen and then urobilinogen, a colorless product.
The oxidation of urobilinogen produces the red-brown pigment urobilin, which is excreted in the stool. A small