Circadian rhythms and bile acid homeostasis: a comprehensive review

ABSTRACT

Circadian rhythms are prominent in nearly all living organisms and regulated by an endogenous central circadian clock that synchronizes physiological and behavioral processes to the external environment. The circadian clock is driven by the transcriptional-translational negative feedback loop that plays important role in the control of liver function and metabolism. As crucial signaling molecules, bile acids participate in regulating the metabolisms of glucose, lipids, energy, medications, and bile acids themselves. Bile acid synthesis, as well as bile acid-activated key enzymes and nuclear receptors involved in bile acid regulation, also displays distinct circadian variations. Circadian deregulation, such as the consequence of circadian clock disruption, restricted feeding and sleep disruption, can disrupt bile acid homeostasis, resulting in cholestatic and metabolic diseases. This review addresses the circadian rhythms in bile acid synthesis and transport and potential consequences of abnormal disrupted circadian rhythm of bile acid homeostasis.

KEYWORDS:

• Bile acid
• circadian rhythm
• bile acid synthesis
• nuclear receptor
• circadian clock
• bile acid homeostasis
• circadian disruption

Disclosure Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [No. 81603202 and 81803798] and National Major Scientific and Technological Special Project for “Significant New Drugs Development” [No. 2017ZX09304022].