Calcium-Dependent Cell Damage Induced by Bile Acid

The mechanism of how cholelithiasis increases the risk of acute pancreatitis remains obscure. When gallstones obstruct the lower biliary tract, bile acids can enter the pancreas either by luminal diffusion or by interstitial leakage. Here we provide the first evidence that bile acids can be transported into pancreatic acinar cells through the membrane transporters and induce cell death by impairing intracellular Ca$\^$2+/ signals.(omitted)