Bile salt homeostasis pathway enzymes

Bile salt homeostasis pathway enzymes refers to a set of enzymes and regulatory proteins responsible for the synthesis, modification, and recycling of bile acids and bile salts predominantly in the liver, and their subsequent modification in the intestine. The key enzymes include cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1, rate-limiting), sterol 27-hydroxylase (CYP27A1, alternative pathway), and additional cytochrome P450 enzymes, along with conjugating enzymes for glycine/taurine addition. Regulation is tightly controlled via feedback from nuclear and membrane receptors (FXR, TGR5), and further modification occurs via gut microbial bile salt hydrolases. Disruption of this pathway is implicated in many hepatic, metabolic, and inflammatory diseases. This name does not correspond to a single molecular entity, but to a collection of well-defined molecule classes in a pathway essential for cholesterol metabolism and enterohepatic nutrient homeostasis.

Other names

Bile acid synthesis enzymesBile acid pathway enzymesBile acid homeostasis enzymes

FXR agonism (negative feedback inhibition of bile acid synthesis); Bile acid sequestration (removal from enterohepatic circulation); Enzyme inhibition (e.g., CYP7A1 inhibition); Bile acid conversion (microbial bile salt hydrolases; BSH activity in probiotics)