Figure 6.

Schematics illustrating how bacterially produced lithocholic acid may affect hepatic gene expression and lipid metabolism

Administration of B. cellulosilyticus, F. longum, and R. intestinalis leads to an increase in the relative abundance of LCA-producing bacteria increasing LCA levels through the 7α-dehydroxylation pathway. The increased levels of LCA in circulation downregulate expression of genes involved in lipid biosynthesis and upregulates genes involved in of lipid catabolism via activation of FXR.