AUTHOR=Dennery Phyllis A.

TITLE=Evaluating the Beneficial and Detrimental Effects of Bile Pigments in Early and Later Life

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=Volume 3 - 2012

YEAR=2012

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2012.00115

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2012.00115

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=The heme degradation pathway has been conserved throughout phylogeny and allows for the removal of a pro-oxidant and the generation of unique molecules including bile pigment with important cellular functions.  The impact of bile pigments on health and disease are reviewed as is the special circumstance of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. In addition, the importance of promoter polymorphisms in the UDP-glucuronyltransferase gene (UGTA1), which is key to the elimination of excess bilirubin and to preventing its toxicity, are discussed.  Overall, the duality of bile pigments as either cytoprotective or toxic molecules is highlighted.