Bile Acids and Their Receptors: Modulators and Therapeutic Targets in Liver Inflammation

Overview

Journal Semin Immunopathol

Publisher Springer

Specialties Allergy & Immunology
Pathology

Date 2022 Apr 13

PMID 35415765

Authors

Anna Bertolini

Romina Fiorotto

Mario Strazzabosco

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Bile acids participate in the intestinal emulsion, digestion, and absorption of lipids and fat-soluble vitamins. When present in high concentrations, as in cholestatic liver diseases, bile acids can damage cells and cause inflammation. After the discovery of bile acids receptors about two decades ago, bile acids are considered signaling molecules. Besides regulating bile acid, xenobiotic, and nutrient metabolism, bile acids and their receptors have shown immunomodulatory properties and have been proposed as therapeutic targets for inflammatory diseases of the liver. This review focuses on bile acid-related signaling pathways that affect inflammation in the liver and provides an overview of the preclinical and clinical applications of modulators of these pathways for the treatment of cholestatic and autoimmune liver diseases.

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