title: Farnesoid-X Receptor (FXR) as a Promising Pharmaceutical Target in Atherosclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atherosclerosis (AS) is a major cause of death and morbidity in Western world and is strongly connected with atherogenic lipoproteins and inflammation. Bile acids (BA) act as activating signals of endogenous ligands such as Farnesoid-X receptor (FXR). Primary data indicate a potential role of FXR in AS. The therapeutic value of FXR ligands in AS is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  With the present review, we analyzed the efficacy of FXR agonists as a therapeutic modalities against AS. In this aspect, we performed an electronic search through Pub- Med/MEDLINE database by using the key terms: FXR*, Farnesoid X receptor*, atherosclerosis*, bile acids* and agonism*.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our analysis, the FXR seems to be a promising therapeutic target in the atherosclerosis natural history. FXR agonism could exert protective effects in the development and evolution of AS. However, concomitant side effects such as the reduction of plasma HDL have been reported. Finally, results from undergoing clinical trials with synthetic FXR agonists will shed more light to the precise role of FXR agonism in AS treatment.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens. Greece.
authors.forename: Demetrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moris
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of the Aegean, 2 Mitropoliti Ioakeim Street, Myrina, Lemnos 81400. Greece.
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giaginis
authors.affiliation: First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens. Greece.
authors.forename: Gerasimos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tsourouflis
authors.affiliation: First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens. Greece.
authors.forename: Stamatios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Theocharis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000819:agonists / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013253:Steroid 12-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000099150:Receptor, Farnesoid X-Activated
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D013253:Steroid 12-alpha-Hydroxylase; D000099150:Receptor, Farnesoid X-Activated; C000602622:6-ethyl-24-norcholane-3,7,23-triol-23 sulfate
keywords: FXR; agonist; atherosclerosis; bile acids; clinical trials; pharmaceutical target