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. 2022 Oct 11;163(11):bqac155.
doi: 10.1210/endocr/bqac155.

Bile Acids-A Peek Into Their History and Signaling

James T Nguyen  1 , Ryan Philip Henry Shaw  1 , Sayeepriyadarshini Anakk  1   2   3
Affiliations

Bile Acids-A Peek Into Their History and Signaling

James T Nguyen et al. Endocrinology. .

Abstract

Bile acids wear many hats, including those of an emulsifier to facilitate nutrient absorption, a cholesterol metabolite, and a signaling molecule in various tissues modulating itching to metabolism and cellular functions. Bile acids are synthesized in the liver but exhibit wide-ranging effects indicating their ability to mediate organ-organ crosstalk. So, how does a steroid metabolite orchestrate such diverse functions? Despite the inherent chemical similarity, the side chain decorations alter the chemistry and biology of the different bile acid species and their preferences to bind downstream receptors distinctly. Identification of new modifications in bile acids is burgeoning, and some of it is associated with the microbiota within the intestine. Here, we provide a brief overview of the history and the various receptors that mediate bile acid signaling in addition to its crosstalk with the gut microbiota.

Keywords: G protein–couple receptor; bile acids; enterohepatic recirculation; gut microbiota; nuclear receptor; synthesis.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Timeline of historical bile acid research and innovation.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of human and murine nuclear receptors (NRs) and G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) in tissues involved in bile acid metabolism. Relative mRNA expression of NRs and GPCRs are denoted by their font size to signify how abundant they are in those tissues. The compiled mRNA expression data were obtained from the papers cited next to each nuclear receptor in paranthesis. Human MRGPXR4 and similar murine orthologs Mrgpra1 and Mrgprb2 genes are found in trigeminal ganglia and dorsal root ganglia (97,117,120,121). Human FXRα (95, 122, 123), SHP (124, 125), LXRα/β (95,126–128), VDR (95, 129, 130), TGR5 (115, 131), S1PR2 (132, 133), and PXR (95,134–143). Murine Fxrα (96), Shp (96, 144), Lxrα/β (145, 146), Vdr (96, 129), Tgr5 (147), S1pr2 (148, 149), and Pxr (96, 135, 150). *Asterisk denotes contradictory data for mRNA expression in that tissue. Created with BioRender.com.
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