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  • Title: Isolation and characterization of cholic acid 7alpha-dehydroxylating fecal bacteria from cholesterol gallstone patients.
    Author: Wells JE, Berr F, Thomas LA, Dowling RH, Hylemon PB.
    Journal: J Hepatol; 2000 Jan; 32(1):4-10. PubMed ID: 10673060.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND/AIMS: The development of cholesterol gallstones, in some patients, has been associated with increased proportions of deoxycholic acid in the bile acid pool. Deoxycholic acid is a microbial product of cholic acid 7alpha-dehydroxylation in the intestines. The levels and activities of bile acid 7alpha-dehydroxylating bacteria have been reported to be increased in gallstone patients. The aim of the current study was to isolate 7alpha-dehydroxylating bacteria from gallstone patients and determine if these individuals are colonized by similar bacterial species. METHODS: The levels of 7alpha-dehydroxylating bacteria in fecal samples were determined by fecal dilutions in 24 gallstone patients and 10 controls. 7alpha-Dehydroxylating bacteria were isolated by a non-selective streak plate technique and 7alpha-dehydroxylation activity was determined by measuring the conversion of [14C]-cholic acid to [14C]-deoxycholic acid using thin-layer chromatography. RESULTS: Gallstone patients had >42-fold (p<0.01) higher levels of 7alpha-dehydroxylating bacteria than patients who had not developed gallstones. Eighteen strains of 7alpha-dehydroxylating bacteria were isolated from eight gallstone patients. Attempts to isolate 7alpha-dehydroxylating bacteria from ten control patients were unsuccessful using identical isolation techniques. Surprisingly, all strains of bacteria isolated from gallstone patients appear to belong to the genus Clostridium. CONCLUSION: Gallstone patients have higher levels of 7alpha-dehydroxylating fecal bacteria and appear to harbor only members of the genus Clostridium with this activity.
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