New insights into the chemical and isotopic composition of human-body biominerals. I: Cholesterol gallstones from England and Greece

作者：Athanasiadou Dimitra; Godelitsas Athanasios^*; Sokaras Dimosthenis; Karydas Andreas Germanos; Dotsika Elisavet; Potamitis Constantinos; Zervou Maria; Xanthos Stelios; Chatzitheodoridis Elias; Gooi Hock Chye; Becker Udo

来源：Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 2013, 27(2): 79-84.

DOI：10.1016/j.jtemb.2012.08.004

• Biominerals
• Gallstones
• Cholesterol
• Metals
• Isotopes

We have analyzed gallstones from four patients of Europe and particularly from England (including samples from a mother and a daughter) and Greece. According to the XRD, FTIR, NMR and laser micro-Raman results the studied materials correspond to typical cholesterol monohydrate (ChM). The micromorphology of cholesterol microaystals was investigated by means of SEM-EDS. The XRF results revealed that Ca is the dominant non-organic metal in all gallstones (up to similar to 1.95 wt.%) together with Fe, Cu, Pb and Ni (up to similar to 19 ppm for each metal). Gallstones from England contain additional Mn (up to similar to 87 ppm) and Zn (up to similar to 6 ppm) while the sample of the mother contains negligible Zn and Mn, compared to that of her daughter, but significant As (similar to 4.5 ppm). All cholesterol gallstones examined are well enriched in potentially toxic metals (Pb, as well as Ni in one case) and metalloids (As also in one case) as compared to the global average. The position of Zn, which is a characteristic biometal, in the structure of cholesterol, was investigated by molecular simulation using the Accelrys Materials Studio (R) software. On the basis of IRMS results, all gallstones examined exhibit a very light delta C-13 signature (average delta C-13 similar to-24% PDB). Gamma-ray spectrometry measurements indicate the presence of Pb-214 and Bi-214 natural radionuclides due to the U-238 series as well as an additional amount of K-40.

• 出版日期2013