Action of apolipoprotein A-I on lecithin-cholesterol vesicles in model bile

Gallstone disease afflicts 12% of the adult US population and annual medical expenses relating to gallstones are over $2 billion. Understanding the gallstone pathogenic pathway will pave the way for preventive therapies. The primary transporters of cholesterol in bile are the lecithin-cholesterol vesicles. Gallstones are formed due the nucleation of cholesterol from lecithin-cholesterol vesicles of cholesterol-supersaturated bile. The kinetics of cholesterol nucleation is influenced by various biliary species, two of them being Apolipoprotein A-I, an anti-nucleating agent and Phospholipase C, a pro-nucleating agent. In this study, the influence of Apolipoprotein A-I on lecithin-cholesterol vesicles of supersaturated bile is examined in the presence of Phospholipase C. Also, the fundamental understanding gained can be potentially applied to the study of heart disease as both the diseases share a similar mechanistic pathway.