Figure 2.

Glycoursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA), but not ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), has a protective effect on unconjugated bilirubin (UCB)-induced caspase-3 activation in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC). A cell line of HBMEC was incubated without (control) or with 100 μM UCB, in the presence of 100 μM human serum albumin, for 4 h. The bile acids (50 μM) were added 1 h prior to UCB incubation. Quantification of caspase-3 activity is shown as fold change from control values and results are expressed as mean ± SEM from at least three independent experiments. ^***P < 0.001 vs. control; ^§P < 0.05 vs. UCB alone.