Non-conjugated bile acid induces mitochondrial damage in pancreatic ductal epithelial cell

Background: Exposure of the pancreas to bile acids is considered to be one of the possible causes of acute pancreatitis. We have recently shown that a high dose (1 mM) of non-conjugated chenodeoxycholate (CDC) had strong inhibitory effects on the activities of acid/base transporters (Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE), Na+/HCO3- cotransporter (NBC), Cl-/HCO3- exchanger (CBE)) on pancreatic ductal epithelial cells (PDEC). However, the same dose of conjugated glucochenodeoxycholate (GCDC) had no effect on the ion transporters. Our aim was to characterize the intracellular mechanisms of the inhibitory effects of bile acids. Me…