title: Use of farnesoid X receptor agonists to treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a common cause of liver related morbidity and mortality. It is closely linked to underlying insulin resistance. It has recently been shown that bile acids modulate insulin signaling and can improve insulin resistance in cell based and animal studies. These effects are mediated in part by activation of farnesoid x receptors by bile acids. In human studies, FXR agonists improve insulin resistance and have recently been shown to improve NAFLD. The basis for the use of FXR agonists for the treatment of NAFLD and early human experience with such agents is reviewed in this paper.
authors.affiliation: Virgnia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Va., USA.
authors.forename: Arun J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sanyal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D002635:Chenodeoxycholic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000819:agonists*; D000099150:Receptor, Farnesoid X-Activated
chemical_list: D002635:Chenodeoxycholic Acid; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D000099150:Receptor, Farnesoid X-Activated; C464660:obeticholic acid