title: Nuclear receptors, bile acids and cholesterol homeostasis series - bile acids and pregnancy.
abstract: Bile acids have been traditionally thought of as having an important role in fat emulsification. It is now emerging that they act as important signalling molecules that not only autoregulate their own synthesis but also influence lipid and glucose metabolism. Although, the mechanisms that underlie the regulation of bile acid homeostasis have been well characterised in normal physiology, the impact of pregnancy on bile acid regulation is still poorly understood. This review summarises the main regulatory mechanisms underlying bile acid homeostasis and discusses how pregnancy, a unique physiological state, can modify them. The fetoplacental adaptations that protect against fetal bile acid toxicity are reviewed. We highlight the importance of bile acid regulation during gestation by discussing the liver disease of pregnancy, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and how genetic, endocrine and environmental factors contribute to the disease aetiology at a cellular and molecular level.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Dept. of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Shadi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abu-Hayyeh
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Papacleovoulou
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Williamson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism*; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000502:physiology*; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid; D002784:Cholesterol