Differential roles of individual bile acid in physiology and disease

Bile acids (BAs) have originally been linked to nutrient digestion and absorption, however, emerging research underscores their pivotal role as signaling molecules in regulating multiple physiological and pathological processes. Alternations in BA levels and profiles are frequently observed in a var...

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Main Authors: Mingjie Fan, Zhiyu Yang, Lihua Jin, Wendong Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Pharmacological Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043661825002701
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author Mingjie Fan
Zhiyu Yang
Lihua Jin
Wendong Huang
author_facet Mingjie Fan
Zhiyu Yang
Lihua Jin
Wendong Huang
author_sort Mingjie Fan
collection DOAJ
description Bile acids (BAs) have originally been linked to nutrient digestion and absorption, however, emerging research underscores their pivotal role as signaling molecules in regulating multiple physiological and pathological processes. Alternations in BA levels and profiles are frequently observed in a variety of diseases, indicating their potential as either diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets or agents. In addition to the levels of BAs, the specific composition of BA species, such as primary vs. secondary BAs, conjugated vs. unconjugated BAs, and hydroxylated vs. non-hydroxylated BAs, plays a critical role in maintaining physiological balance and modulating disease pathogenesis. In this review, we highlight the association between 12alpha-hydroxylated (12α-OH) BAs and non-12α-OH BAs, as well as other BA modifications, with diverse diseases, including liver diseases, gastrointestinal conditions, metabolic syndromes, age-related neurological diseases, and cancers. While substantial progress has been made in elucidating the pleotropic role of BAs in disease mechanisms, the clinical translation of BAs as diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets or agents requires further validation and standardization. Ongoing discoveries in this dynamic field are paving the way for breakthroughs in both mechanistic insight and clinical translation.
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spelling doaj-art-e97f8db6b5764a5e931e1d5718010f542025-08-20T02:45:42ZengElsevierPharmacological Research1096-11862025-08-0121810784510.1016/j.phrs.2025.107845Differential roles of individual bile acid in physiology and diseaseMingjie Fan0Zhiyu Yang1Lihua Jin2Wendong Huang3School of Life Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China; Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China; Key Laboratory of Endocrine Glucose & Lipids Metabolism and Brain Aging, Ministry of Education, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China; Corresponding author at: School of Life Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China.School of Life Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, ChinaDepartment of Diabetes Complications and Metabolism, Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USADepartment of Diabetes Complications and Metabolism, Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; Corresponding author.Bile acids (BAs) have originally been linked to nutrient digestion and absorption, however, emerging research underscores their pivotal role as signaling molecules in regulating multiple physiological and pathological processes. Alternations in BA levels and profiles are frequently observed in a variety of diseases, indicating their potential as either diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets or agents. In addition to the levels of BAs, the specific composition of BA species, such as primary vs. secondary BAs, conjugated vs. unconjugated BAs, and hydroxylated vs. non-hydroxylated BAs, plays a critical role in maintaining physiological balance and modulating disease pathogenesis. In this review, we highlight the association between 12alpha-hydroxylated (12α-OH) BAs and non-12α-OH BAs, as well as other BA modifications, with diverse diseases, including liver diseases, gastrointestinal conditions, metabolic syndromes, age-related neurological diseases, and cancers. While substantial progress has been made in elucidating the pleotropic role of BAs in disease mechanisms, the clinical translation of BAs as diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets or agents requires further validation and standardization. Ongoing discoveries in this dynamic field are paving the way for breakthroughs in both mechanistic insight and clinical translation.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043661825002701Bile acidsCytochrome P450 family 8 subfamily B member 1 (CYP8B1)12α-hydroxylated BAsBile acid receptorGut microbiotaDiseases
spellingShingle Mingjie Fan
Zhiyu Yang
Lihua Jin
Wendong Huang
Differential roles of individual bile acid in physiology and disease
Pharmacological Research
Bile acids
Cytochrome P450 family 8 subfamily B member 1 (CYP8B1)
12α-hydroxylated BAs
Bile acid receptor
Gut microbiota
Diseases
title Differential roles of individual bile acid in physiology and disease
title_full Differential roles of individual bile acid in physiology and disease
title_fullStr Differential roles of individual bile acid in physiology and disease
title_full_unstemmed Differential roles of individual bile acid in physiology and disease
title_short Differential roles of individual bile acid in physiology and disease
title_sort differential roles of individual bile acid in physiology and disease
topic Bile acids
Cytochrome P450 family 8 subfamily B member 1 (CYP8B1)
12α-hydroxylated BAs
Bile acid receptor
Gut microbiota
Diseases
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043661825002701
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AT wendonghuang differentialrolesofindividualbileacidinphysiologyanddisease