Research progress on the immune microenvironment of the gallbladder in patients with cholesterol gallstones

Abstract

Cholesterol gallstones are very common in hepatobiliary surgery and have been studied to a certain extent by doctors worldwide for decades. However, the mechanism of cholesterol gallstone formation is not fully understood, so there is currently no completely effective drug for the treatment and prevention of cholesterol gallstones. The formation and development of cholesterol gallstones are caused by a variety of genetic and environmental factors, among which genetic susceptibility, intestinal microflora disorders, impaired gallbladder motility, and immune disorders are important in the pathogenesis of cholesterol gallstones. This review focuses on recent advances in these mechanisms. We also discuss some new targets that may be effective in the treatment and prevention of cholesterol gallstones, which may be hot areas in the future.

How traditional Chinese medicine can prevent recurrence of common bile duct stones after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography?

“…The diastole of the gallbladder ensures the normal excretion of bile salts, cholesterol and phospholipids from the liver cells in order to reduce the amount of cholesterol in the serum and tissues of the body; while the regular contraction of the gallbladder ensures the power of the bile flow in the biliary system and reduces the time of bile retention, thus decreasing the probability of gallstones occurrence. When the CCK-regulated gallbladder and intestine are dysfunctional, the excess cholesterol in the biliary system is not only more likely to precipitate, but also subject to the effect of intestinal reabsorption, the cholesterol that has already been metabolized out of the body’s circulation will re-enter the body and become a risk factor for the recurrence of gallstones ( Jiao et al, 2022 ; Sun et al, 2022 ).…”