Promoting effect of biliverdin for liver cells initiated by aflatoxin B1.

In this paper we have studied the participation of biliverdin, a bile pigment produced from hemoglobin catabolism, in a two-stage carcinogenesis model using hepatic cells in culture. The initiation was realised by a short term exposure to low doses of aflatoxin B1. The cells were then cultivated in the presence of biliverdin in the medium. We observed that biliverdin increased the rate and the efficiency of neoplastic transformation of cells. These results suggest that biliverdin may act as a promoting substance.