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Bilirubin (Br), the product of heme catabolism, is formed in all cells and shed into the blood, where it is transported by albumin to the liver. At this level, it is taken up, glucurono-conjugated and excreted into the bile by an ATP-dependent efflux pump. Uptake of Br from the blood into the liver has been proposed to be mediated by OATP1B1 (Cui Y et al 2001). Later, this Br transport function has been questioned (Wang Y et al 2003). Bilitranslocase (BTL) is a plasma membrane organic anion carrier that binds Br with high affinity (Kd=2nM) (Battiston L et al 1998). The aim of this work was to test directly the Br transport capacity of BTL in liver cells. A cell transport assay was set up, based on the measurement of the time-dependent disappearance of Br from a medium bathing a monolayer of cultured human liver cells (HepG2). The involvement of BTL was investigated by testing the effect of an anti-sequence antibody on the kinetics of Br disappearance. The medium containing Br was a simple phosphate buffered saline solution (pH 7.4). Under these conditions, its solubility is

Bilitranslocase is a carrier protein localized at the basolateral domain of the hepatocyte plasma membrane. It transports various organic anions, including bromosulfophthalein and anthocyanins. Functional studies in subcellular fractions enriched in plasma membrane revealed a high-affinity binding site for bilirubin, associated with bilitranslocase. The aim of this work was to test whether the liver uptake of bilirubin depends on the activity of bilitranslocase. To this purpose, an assay of bilirubin uptake into HepG2 cell cultures was set up. The transport assay medium contained bilirubin at a concentration of approximately 50 nm in the absence of albumin. To analyse the relative changes in bilirubin concentration in the medium throughout the uptake experiment, a highly sensitive thermal lens spectrometry method was used. The mechanism of bilirubin uptake into HepG2 cells was investigated by using inhibitors such as anti-sequence bilitranslocase antibodies, the protein-modifying reagent phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride and diverse organic anions, including nicotinic acid, taurocholate and digoxin. To validate the assay further, both bromosulfophthalein and indocyanine green uptake in HepG2 cells was also characterized. The results obtained show that bilitranslocase is a carrier with specificity for both bilirubin and bromosulfophthalein, but not for indocyanine green.

The mammalian bilirubin transporter bilitranslocase (BTL, T.C.#2.A.65.1.1) is found in both absorptive (intestine) and excretory epithelia (liver, kidney) and in the vascular endothelium. The aim of this work was to investigate whether a BTL homologue is expressed also in fish hepatopancreas. Immunochemistry based on an antisequence antibody specific for rat liver BTL demonstrated the presence of such homologue in sea-bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) hepatopancreas. Furthermore the transport activity of such a carrier, measured as electrogenic bromosulphophthalein (BSP) uptake, was assayed in sea-bass microsomes, where it was inhibited by the same antibody. Transport activity in fish showed numerous kinetic similarities with rat, such as BSP Km(about 5 µM in both), bilirubin Ki (about 0.1 µM), quercetin competitive Ki (about 20 µM), and noncompetitive Ki (about 85 µM). Biliverdin Ki was instead nearly 10-fold higher in fish than in rat (0.97 ± 0.06 µM and 0.11 ± 0.01 µM, respectively). Fish BTL was found to exist in two different allosteric forms with different affinities for the substrate, similarly to rat liver BTL. It was found that sea-bass BTL is very sensitive to inhibition by HgCl2, a major water pollutant, making it reasonable to exploit fish BTL activity as an ecotoxicological biosensor.

Elastin-Like Polypeptides are an interesting class of recombinant proteins that mimic elastin. Here we present some data about phase transition properties and particle formation features of the recombinantly expressed Human Elastin-Like polypeptide (HELP). This macromolecule shows a promising potential as vehicle for delivery and controlled release of active compounds.

Aims Ingestion of flavonoid-rich beverages acutely affects endothelial function, causing vasodilation. This effect might be dependent on flavonoid transport into the endothelium. We investigated flavonoid uptake into vascular endothelial cells and whether this was mediated by bilitranslocase (TC 2.A.65.1.1), a bilirubin-specific membrane carrier that also transports various dietary flavonoids. Methods and results Human and rat aortic primary endothelial cells as well as Ea.hy 926 cells were found to express bilitranslocase, as assessed by immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting analysis using anti-sequence bilitranslocase antibodies targeting two distinct extracellular epitopes of the carrier. Bilitranslocase function was tested by measuring the rate of bromosulfophthalein (a standard bilitranslocase transport substrate) uptake into endothelial cells and was inhibited not only by bilitranslocase antibodies but also by quercetin (a flavonol). Similarly, uptake of both quercetin and malvidin 3-glucoside (an anthocyanin) were also found to be antibody-inhibited. Quercetin uptake into cells was inhibited by bilirubin, suggesting flavonoid uptake via a membrane pathway shared with bilirubin. Conclusion The uptake of some flavonoids into the vascular endothelium occurs via the bilirubin-specific membrane transporter bilitranslocase. This offers new insights into the vascular effects of both flavonoids and bilirubin.

Fruits and vegetables are rich in flavonoids, and ample epidemiological data show that diets rich in fruits and vegetables confer protection against cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases, and cancer. However, flavonoid bioavailability is reportedly very low in mammals and the molecular mechanisms of their action are still poorly known. This review focuses on membrane transport of flavonoids, a critical determinant of their bioavailability. Cellular influx and efflux transporters are reviewed for their involvement in the absorption of flavonoids from the gastro-intestinal tract and their subsequent tissue distribution. A focus on the mammalian bilirubin transporter bilitranslocase (TCDB 2.A.65.1.1) provides further insight into flavonoid bioavailability and its relationship with plasma bilirubin (an endogenous antioxidant). The general function of bilitranslocase as a flavonoid membrane transporter is further demonstrated by the occurrence of a plant homologue in organs (petals, berries) where flavonoid biosynthesis is most active. Bilitranslocase appears associated with sub-cellular membrane compartments and operates as a flavonoid membrane transporter.

Anthocyanins are among the most common flavonoids in the human diet. In spite of their very low bioavailability, anthocyanins are indicated as active in preventing the progress of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, obesity, inflammation, and cancer. Any piece of knowledge concerning absorption, tissue distribution, metabolism, and excretion of dietary anthocyanins is expected to help understanding the apparent paradox between their low concentrations in cells and their bioactivity. The aim of this work was to investigate the renal uptake of dietary anthocyanins and the underlying molecular mechanism. A solution containing anthocyanins extracted from grape (Vitis vinifera) was introduced into the isolated stomach of anesthetized rats; after both 10 and 30 min, plasma, liver, and kidney were analyzed for their anthocyanin contents. While anthocyanins in the liver were at apparent equilibrium with plasma both after 10 and 30 min, kidney anthocyanins were 3- and 2.3-fold higher than in plasma, after 10 and 30 min, respectively. Since the transport activity of the bilitranslocase in kidney basolateral membrane vesicles was competitively inhibited by malvidin 3-glucoside (K(i) = 4.8 +/- 0.2 microM), the anthocyanin uptake from blood into kidney tubular cells is likely to be mediated by the kidney isoform of this organic anion membrane transporter.

During maturation, Vitis vinifera berries accumulate a large amount of several anthocyanins in the epidermal tissue, whereas their precursors and intermediates are ubiquitously synthesized within the fruit. Up to date, several mechanisms of flavonoid transport at subcellular level have been hypothesized, but it is not possible to identify a general model applicable in every plant tissue and organ. Recently, a putative anthocyanin carrier, homologue to mammalian bilitranslocase (BTL) (TC 2.A.65.1.1), was found in Dianthus caryophyllus petal microsomes. In the present paper, an immunohistochemical and immunochemical analysis, using an antibody raised against a BTL epitope, evidences the expression and function of such a transporter in V. vinifera berries (cv. Merlot). Specific localisations of the putative carrier within berry tissues together with expression changes during different developmental stages are shown. Water stress induces an increase in protein expression in both skin and pulp samples. A bromosulfalein (BSP) uptake activity, inhibitable by the BTL antibody, is detected in berry mesocarp microsomes, with K m = 2.39 μM BSP and V max = 0.29 μmol BSP min−1 mg−1 protein. This BSP uptake is also competitively inhibited by quercetin (K i = 4 μM). A putative role for this carrier is discussed in relation to the membrane transport of secondary metabolites.

Anthocyanins are water-soluble compounds that pigment berries, grapes and vegetables. Their flavonoid backbone endows them with oxygen radical scavenging activity. Thus, they could play a role in protecting the human organism from various degenerative and proliferative diseases, that are currently believed to result from an oxygen radical-mediated disruption of cellular components. Their great potential as functional food ingredients is, however, restricted by the incomplete knowledge of their bioavailability. In order to contribute to filling this gap, we looked for their presence in the liver, after administration of a solution of pure grape anthocyanins into the stomach of anaesthetised rats. We found that the liver contained both malvidin 3-glucoside and its p-coumarate ester, the main and the minor component of the mixture, respectively. Isolated, cultured liver cells were also found to be permeable to malvidin 3-glucoside and bilitranslocase was identified as the carrier protein involved, by using two different specific antibodies.

The liver is responsible for clearance of bilirubin, the end product of heme catabolism, from the bloodstream. The main aim of our investigation was to determine the role of the carrier protein bilitranslocase in bilirubin uptake into the liver. Our experiments consisted of exposing cell cultures to bilirubin solutions under different conditions and measuring the uptake of bilirubin into the cells. However, since bilirubin is only slightly soluble in aqueous solution (< 70 nM at pH 7.4), we had to use bilirubin concentrations that are far below the limit of detection of the commonly used techniques (e.g. LOD for HPLC with UV-Vis detection ≅ 10 μM). TLS showed up to be a suitable technique for investigation of hilirubin uptake with an LOD of 2 nM. Under basal conditions, bilirubin uptake did not occur. However, increase of cytosolic NADH due to catabolism of specific substrates (e.g. lactate or ethanol) seemed to trigger bilirubin uptake. Furthermore, bilirubin uptake was completely inhibited by addition of specific anti-bilitranslocase antibodies. We can thus infer that, under these conditions, bilitranslocase is the main bilirubin transporter.

A series of water-soluble fullerene C60 derivatives has been investigated for their cytotoxic and hemolytic properties, with the aim to correlate structure with toxicity. It was observed that cationic chains induce significant toxicity while the presence of neutral or anionic moieties did not produce any response in our model. A validation of these experimental observations has been performed by theoretical studies in which hydrophilic and hydrophobic surface areas were correlated quantitatively with hemolytic properties.