Bile acid transport

Bile acids undergo a unique enterohepatic circulation between the liver and intestine, where they are required for intestinal absorption of fatty acids and hydrophobic compounds. Recently, some of the key bile acid transporters in the liver and intestine have been identified, allowing for a vastly greater understanding of how these proteins normally operate. Mutations in specific bile acid transporters have recently been recognized in specific cholestatic syndromes, which usually appear in early childhood. Bile acid transporters are also being used to develop novel drug delivery systems that can enhance intestinal absorption or target delivery to the Liver. These recent advances in the fundamental biology of bile acid transporters will lead to the development of new therapies for general cholestatic liver disease and for inherited cholestatic diseases of childhood.