title: Hepatic FXR: key regulator of whole-body energy metabolism.
abstract: The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a nuclear receptor whose activation leads to alterations in pathways involved in energy metabolism. For example, it serves as a bile acid receptor in tissues such as the liver, and as an energy metabolism regulator in liver, muscle and adipose tissue. However, the effects of FXR activation are not exclusive to the tissue where it is present, because receptor crosstalk affects tissues throughout the body. It has been demonstrated that FXR regulates the metabolism of not just bile acids, but also of fats and hydrocarbon metabolites. FXR is currently under study as a therapeutic target for the treatment of diseases of excess, such as diabetes. Here we review the effects of FXR activation in the response of an organism to excess energy.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, MitoLab, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: João Soeiro
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Teodoro
authors.forename: Anabela Pinto
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Rolo
authors.forename: Carlos Marques
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Palmeira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005204:Farnesol / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020239:Receptor Cross-Talk / Q000502:physiology*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000502:physiology*; D000099150:Receptor, Farnesoid X-Activated
chemical_list: D005204:Farnesol; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D000099150:Receptor, Farnesoid X-Activated