Bile acids: signaling molecules

Jiménez F.N.P.; de Paz V.C.; Otoya-Moreno G.; Martínez S.B. · Revista Cubana de Investigaciones Biomedicas (2024)

Resumen

Introduction: Bile acids constitute signaling molecules that, derived from hepatic cholesterol, intestinal absorption of lipids and fat-soluble vitamins, regulate energy, lipid, glucose, protein metabolism and the immune system. These biological activities make bile acids a new conceptual paradigm in health-disease harmony. Objective: To describe the evidence homologizing bile acids as signaling molecules. Methods: A systematic and critical review was performed in PubMed, SciELO, Lilacs and Elservier (1969-2022), on the biological activities and physicochemical properties of bile acids to demonstrate their signaling action. Results: Updating the biological activities of bile acids incorporates the concept of signaling molecules in teaching and research. Conclusions: The scientific community is provided with a new conceptual paradigm, key in digestive and extradigestive pathophysiology, that defines the signaling action in the molecular nature of bile acids, and transverses the nutrition-metabolism-gut microbiota-intestinal microbiota-immune system balance.