The physiology of bilirubin: health and disease equilibrium

Libor Vitek; Terry D. Hinds; David E. Stec; Claudio Tiribelli

doi:10.1016/j.molmed.2023.01.007

The physiology of bilirubin: health and disease equilibrium

Libor Vitek, Terry D. Hinds, David E. Stec, Claudio Tiribelli

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

Bilirubin has several physiological functions, both beneficial and harmful. In addition to reactive oxygen species-scavenging activities, bilirubin has potent immunosuppressive effects associated with long-term pathophysiological sequelae. It has been recently recognized as a hormone with endocrine actions and interconnected effects on various cellular signaling pathways. Current studies show that bilirubin also decreases adiposity and prevents metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. All in all, the physiological importance of bilirubin is only now coming to light, and strategies for increasing plasma bilirubin levels to combat chronic diseases are starting to be considered. This review discusses the beneficial effects of increasing plasma bilirubin, incorporates emerging areas of bilirubin biology, and provides key concepts to advance the field.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	315-328
Number of pages	14
Journal	Trends in Molecular Medicine
Volume	29
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmed.2023.01.007
State	Published - Apr 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants R01DK121797 (to T.D.H.) and R01DK126884 (D.E.S.), National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute P01 HL05197-11 (D.E.S.) and K01HL125445 (T.D.H.), and National Institute of General Medical Sciences P20GM104357-02 (D.E.S.). This study was supported by grants MH CZ-DRO-VFN64165 (to L.V.) from the Czech Ministry of Health , Cooperation Program, research area DIAG provided by Charles University , and the project National Institute for Research of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases (Programme EXCELES LX22NPO5104 ) funded by the EU – 'Next Generation EU' .

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier Ltd

Keywords

BVRA
Blvra
HO-1
Hmox1
bilirubin
cardiovascular disease
cell signaling
heme oxygenase
metabolism
nuclear receptors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Molecular Medicine
Molecular Biology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.molmed.2023.01.007

Cite this

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title = "The physiology of bilirubin: health and disease equilibrium",

abstract = "Bilirubin has several physiological functions, both beneficial and harmful. In addition to reactive oxygen species-scavenging activities, bilirubin has potent immunosuppressive effects associated with long-term pathophysiological sequelae. It has been recently recognized as a hormone with endocrine actions and interconnected effects on various cellular signaling pathways. Current studies show that bilirubin also decreases adiposity and prevents metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. All in all, the physiological importance of bilirubin is only now coming to light, and strategies for increasing plasma bilirubin levels to combat chronic diseases are starting to be considered. This review discusses the beneficial effects of increasing plasma bilirubin, incorporates emerging areas of bilirubin biology, and provides key concepts to advance the field.",

keywords = "BVRA, Blvra, HO-1, Hmox1, bilirubin, cardiovascular disease, cell signaling, heme oxygenase, metabolism, nuclear receptors",

author = "Libor Vitek and Hinds, {Terry D.} and Stec, {David E.} and Claudio Tiribelli",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants R01DK121797 (to T.D.H.) and R01DK126884 (D.E.S.), National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute P01 HL05197-11 (D.E.S.) and K01HL125445 (T.D.H.), and National Institute of General Medical Sciences P20GM104357-02 (D.E.S.). This study was supported by grants MH CZ-DRO-VFN64165 (to L.V.) from the Czech Ministry of Health , Cooperation Program, research area DIAG provided by Charles University , and the project National Institute for Research of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases (Programme EXCELES LX22NPO5104 ) funded by the EU – 'Next Generation EU' . Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 Elsevier Ltd",

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The physiology of bilirubin: health and disease equilibrium

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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