UDCA, NorUDCA, and TUDCA in Liver Diseases: A Review of Their Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Applications

Bile acids (BAs) are key molecules in generating bile flow, which is an essential function of the liver. In the last decades, there have been great advances in the understanding of BA physiology, and new insights have emerged regarding the role of BAs in determining cell damage and death in several...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inHandbook of experimental pharmacology Vol. 256; p. 237
Main Authors Cabrera, Daniel, Arab, Juan Pablo, Arrese, Marco
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Germany 01.01.2019
Subjects
Signaling
Bile acids
Bile flow
Cell injury
Liver diseases
Inflammation
Cholestasis
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Summary:Bile acids (BAs) are key molecules in generating bile flow, which is an essential function of the liver. In the last decades, there have been great advances in the understanding of BA physiology, and new insights have emerged regarding the role of BAs in determining cell damage and death in several liver diseases. This new knowledge has helped to better delineate the pathophysiology of cholestasis and the adaptive responses of hepatocytes to cholestatic liver injury as well as of the mechanisms of injury of biliary epithelia. In this context, therapeutic approaches for liver diseases using hydrophilic BA (i.e., ursodeoxycholic acid, tauroursodeoxycholic, and, more recently, norursodeoxycholic acid), have been revamped. In the present review, we summarize current experimental and clinical data regarding these BAs and its role in the treatment of certain liver diseases.
ISSN:0171-2004
DOI:10.1007/164_2019_241