IMR Press / FBL / Volume 14 / Issue 11 / DOI: 10.2741/3529

Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark (FBL) is published by IMR Press from Volume 26 Issue 5 (2021). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with Frontiers in Bioscience.

Article
Nuclear receptor ligands in therapy of cholestatic liver disease
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1 Children´s Hospital, University of Tuebingen, Germany
2 Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University Graz, Austria
Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2009, 14(11), 4299–4325; https://doi.org/10.2741/3529
Published: 1 January 2009
Abstract

Cholestasis is a clinical syndrome resulting from disturbed bile formation. The etiology includes different diseases ranging from genetic defects in hepatocellular bile formation to inflammatory diseases of the bile ducts. Many cholestatic diseases are progressive and ultimately fatal. Whatever the cause, cholestasis results in intrahepatic accumulation of cytotoxic bile acids which lead to liver injury reflected by disruption of hepatocellular integrity, inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and increased risk for development of cancer. Determinants of bile secretion undergo an adaptive response during cholestasis aiming to minimize hepatic injury. This adaptation occurs by modification of transport and metabolism of bile acids and other organic solutes in liver, kidney and intestine. The underlying molecular mechanisms are mediated mainly at a transcriptional level by a complex network involving ligand-activated nuclear receptors. However, the adaptive response to accumulation of bile acids cannot fully prevent or repair liver injury in cholestasis. Therefore, novel therapeutic strategies have to be developed involving nuclear receptor ligands which may intensify the protection of the hepatobiliary system in cholestatic disease.

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