Bilirubin is produced from the destruction of which type of cells?

Bilirubin is produced from the breakdown of hemoglobin, which primarily occurs during the destruction of red blood cells (RBCs). When RBCs have reached the end of their lifecycle, they are engulfed by macrophages in organs such as the spleen. During this process, the heme portion of hemoglobin is converted into biliverdin and then further reduced to bilirubin.

Bilirubin is then transported to the liver, where it undergoes further processing before being excreted in bile. This biochemical pathway highlights the connection between red blood cell turnover and bilirubin production, making red blood cells the clear choice for the source of bilirubin formation. Understanding this process is critical in clinical chemistry as abnormalities in bilirubin levels can indicate various health issues such as liver dysfunction or hemolytic diseases.