Effect of cucurbitacins on bilirubin-albumin binding in human plasma

Life Sci. 2007 Jan 16;80(6):579-85. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2006.10.005. Epub 2006 Oct 14.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of three cucurbitacins (Cuc) E, D and I on the bilirubin-albumin binding, both in human serum albumin (HSA) and in plasma. Bilirubin-HSA solution and plasma free of cucurbitacins were prepared as well as others containing serial concentrations of cucurbitacins. The concentration of unbound bilirubin was determined in bilirubin-HSA solution and the direct and total bilirubin concentrations were measured in plasma (with normal or elevated bilirubinemia) by Jendrassik and Grof method. In the conditions we adopted Cuc E and D (to a lesser extent), decreased the levels of unbound bilirubin in bilirubin-HSA solution and decreased direct bilirubin concentration and total bilirubin concentration in plasma in a dose-dependent manner while Cuc I had no effect. The effect of Cuc is related to the presence of native HSA. Thus, when albumin was absent or has been denatured by heating or by urea, Cuc E did not modify bilirubin levels, suggesting that the native structure of albumin is essential for such activity. The interaction of HSA with Cuc E was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. Cuc E increased the intrinsic fluorescence of the protein and the magnitude of fluorescence intensity of bilirubin-albumin complex. We concluded that Cuc E and D produced a rearrangement in the structure of albumin, particularly in the domain-II, resulting in an increase in the binding of bilirubin to albumin regardless to whether it's conjugated to glucuronic acid or unconjugated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bilirubin / blood*
  • Bilirubin / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Hyperbilirubinemia / blood
  • Hyperbilirubinemia / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Serum Albumin / metabolism*
  • Triterpenes / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Serum Albumin
  • Triterpenes
  • cucurbitacin D
  • Bilirubin
  • cucurbitacin I
  • cucurbitacin E