Preferential Utilization of Free Cholesterol From High-Density Lipoproteins for Biliary Cholesterol Secretion in Man

Abstract

High- and low-density lipoproteins carrying free cholesterol labeled with 3H or 14C were administered to a patient with a bile fistula. The free cholesterol from high-density lipoproteins was more rapidly incorporated into biliary cholesterol than the free cholesterol from low-density lipoproteins. These findings show that the liver in man selectively utilizes and secretes the free cholesterol from a particular lipoprotein.