Bile acids and the gut microbiome
JM Ridlon, DJ Kang, PB Hylemon… - Current opinion in …, 2014 - journals.lww.com
The host and microbiome appear to regulate bile acid pool size. The host produces a large,
conjugated hydrophilic bile acid pool, maintained through positive-feedback antagonism of
farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in intestine and liver. Members of the microbiome utilize bile
acids and their conjugates resulting in agonism of FXR in intestine and liver resulting in a
smaller, unconjugated hydrophobic bile acid pool. Hydrophilicity of the bile acid pool is
associated with disease states. Reduced bile acid levels in the gut are associated with …
conjugated hydrophilic bile acid pool, maintained through positive-feedback antagonism of
farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in intestine and liver. Members of the microbiome utilize bile
acids and their conjugates resulting in agonism of FXR in intestine and liver resulting in a
smaller, unconjugated hydrophobic bile acid pool. Hydrophilicity of the bile acid pool is
associated with disease states. Reduced bile acid levels in the gut are associated with …
Summary
The host and microbiome appear to regulate bile acid pool size. The host produces a large, conjugated hydrophilic bile acid pool, maintained through positive-feedback antagonism of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in intestine and liver. Members of the microbiome utilize bile acids and their conjugates resulting in agonism of FXR in intestine and liver resulting in a smaller, unconjugated hydrophobic bile acid pool. Hydrophilicity of the bile acid pool is associated with disease states. Reduced bile acid levels in the gut are associated with bacterial overgrowth and inflammation. Diet, antibiotic therapy, and disease states affect the balance of the microbiome-bile acid pool.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins