Pavlina Buckova M.D.

3/2014
Function of liver
 bile secretion  Metabolism of Cu
 carbohydrate metabolism  storage function
 fat metabolism  role in endocrine system
 protein metabolism  role in imunity
 detoxication  hematopoesis
 metabolism of clothing  heat production
factors
 metabolism of vitamines
A, D, K,B12
Bile secretion
 Surfactant - helps to emulsify the fats in food
 Bile is synthesized and secret by hepatocytes
 Composition of Bile
 water
 electrolytes
 bile acids
 cholesterol
 phospholipids (lecitin)
 bile pigments ( bilirubin)
Bile - Bile acids
 cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids
 synthesized in the liver from cholesterol
 conjugated to an amino acid (glycine or taurine)
 actively secreted into cannaliculi
 critical for absorption of fats and vitamins
 hydrophilic on one side and hydrophobic on the other
side
 formmixed micells
Bile - Bilirubin
 Erythrocytes/Hb are disposed of in the spleen
 globin parts are turned into amino acids
 1.step: heme biliverdin
 iron is released from the molecule as the ferric ion (Fe3+)

 2.step: biliverdin bilirubin

 unconjugated (undirect) bilirubin - not soluble in water
- bound to albumin sent to the liver
 bilirubin is conjugated with glucuronic acid - soluble
in water (=direkt bilirubin)
Carbohydrate metabolism
 Glycogenesis
 Glycogenolysis
 Gluconeogenesis

 Liver helps maintain a relatively constant blood

glucose level
Fat metabolism
 Oxidation of triglycerole
 Production of ketones
 Synthesis of lipoproteins (VLDL)
 Lipogenesis
 Synthesis of cholesterol and phospholipids
Protein metabolism
 Deamination and transaminiation of AAs
 Urea Cycle
 Synthesis of non-essential AAs
 Synthesis and degradation of peptide hormones
 Synthesis of plasma proteins
Detoxication
 breaks down or modifies toxic substances and most
medicinal products
 product of intestinal bakteria
 amonia
 hormons (viz endokrine role)

 Preferably, the matabolites are conjugated to avail

excretion in bile or urine
Coagulation
Synthesis of:
 Procoagulants : Factors I, II, V, VII, (VIII), IX, X, XI,
XII, XIII
 Anticoagulants:Protein C, Protein S, antitrombin
 Fibrinolysis: PAI-I, alpha2-antiplasmin
Metabolism and storage of
vitamines A,D,K,B12

 Vit A -metabolism of karoten to vit A

 Vit D- metabolism of cholekalciferol to 25-
hydroxycholekalciferol
Copper metabolism
 In the liver, copper is bound to intracellular
chaperones
 Chaperones deliver copper to specific pathways:
Storage - Excretion - Cytochromes
Storage
 blood – cca 450ml (during heart silure can contain 1l of
blood)
 glykogen
 Fe, Cu
 large quantity of vitamin A, K, vitamin D and B12
The liver as an endocrine organ
Synthesis of :
 IGF-1-
 thrombopoetin
 Angiotensinogen – role in blood pressure regulation

 Insulin and other hormons degradation

Role in imunity
 the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS
 Synthesis of proteins of acute phase
Hematopoesis
 In the first trimester fetus
 In some specific conditions
 Storage of vit B12, Fe
Heat production
 During metabolic reactions in liver, part of energy is
transfered into heat energy
 The tempereture of blood leasing liver is 39-40°C
THANK YOU