Role of Pancreatic Cholesterol Esterase in the Uptake and Esterification of Cholesterol by Isolated Intestinal Cells

Abstract

Isolated intestinal mucosal cells from normal and common duct-cannu-lated rats have been prepared by collagen-ase dissociation. These cells displayed ultra-structural integrity and retained several metabolic characteristics typical of intact intestinal mucosa. These included galactose accumulation and its inhibition by dinitro-phenol, glucose oxidation, incorporation of labeled leucine into cellular protein, and the uptake and esterification of fatty acid. The uptake of cholesterol by cells from common duct-cannulated rats was comparable to that in cells from control animals; however, esterification was only about 25% of that in control cells. Preincubation of the “defective” cells for 30 min with the purified subunit or active form of pancreatic sterol ester hydrolase had no effect on cholesterol uptake but resulted in a fourfold to sixfold increase in the ability of the cells to esterify cholesterol. These studies provide additional evidence for the essential role of pancreatic sterol ester hydrolase in the mucosal esterification of absorbed cholesterol prior to lymphatic transport.