Bile acid metabolism and signaling in liver disease and therapy

• Main Author: John Y.L. Chiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2017-06-01
• Series: Liver Research
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2542568417000071

Bile acids play a critical role in the regulation of glucose, lipid, and energy metabolism through activation of the nuclear bile acid receptor farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and membrane G protein-coupled bile acid receptor-1 (Gpbar-1, aka TGR5). Agonist activation of FXR and TGR5 improves insulin and glucose sensitivity and stimulates energy metabolism to prevent diabetes, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Bile acids have both pro- and anti-inflammatory actions through FXR and TGR5 in the intestine and liver. In the intestine, bile acids activate FXR and TGR5 to stimulate fibroblast growth factor 15 and glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion. FXR and TGR5 agonists may have therapeutic potential for treating liver-related metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and NAFLD. Keywords: Bile acid metabolism, Cholestatic liver diseases, Metabolic diseases