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©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 7, 2008; 14(37): 5620-5629
Published online Oct 7, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.5620
Published online Oct 7, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.5620
Endocrine and paracrine role of bile acids
Verena Keitel, Ralf Kubitz, Dieter Häussinger, Clinic of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectiology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Moorenstrasse 5, Düsseldorf D-40225, Germany
Author contributions: Keitel V, Kubitz R and Häussinger D contributed equally in writing the paper.
Correspondence to: Dr. Dieter Häussinger, Professor, Clinic of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectiology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Moorenstrasse 5, Düsseldorf D-40225, Germany. haeussin@uni-duesseldorf.de
Telephone: +49-211-8116330 Fax: +49-211-818752
Received: July 24, 2008
Revised: September 16, 2008
Accepted: September 23, 2008
Published online: October 7, 2008
Revised: September 16, 2008
Accepted: September 23, 2008
Published online: October 7, 2008
Abstract
Bile acids are not only important for the absorption of dietary lipids and fat soluble vitamins but are signalling molecules with diverse endocrine and paracrine functions. Bile acids regulate bile acid, lipid and glucose metabolism and modulate temperature and energy homeostasis. Furthermore, bile acids can not only promote cell proliferation and liver regeneration but can also induce programmed cell death. Bile acid functions are mediated through different pathways which comprise the activation of nuclear hormone receptors, of intracellular kinases and of the plasma membrane-bound, G-protein coupled bile acid receptor TGR5/Gpbar-1.
Keywords: Bile acids; Farnesoid X receptor; TGR5; Glucose metabolism; Lipid metabolism