Figure 6.

L. acidophilus treatment ameliorated cholestatic liver injury is required FXR signaling. (a). The ratio of conjugated/unconjugated BAs in feces in severe and mild groups. n = 5 individuals/group. (b). The ratio of conjugated/unconjugated BAs in feces in the sham, BDL, and BDL+ L. acidophilus groups. n = 5 individuals/group. (c). Fecal BSH enzyme activity in the severe and mild groups. n = 5 individuals/group. (d)- (e). Ileum mRNA expression of SHP and FGF15. (f). Liver mRNA expression of CYP7α1. n = 5 individuals/group. (g)-(i). Serum ALT, AST and TBA levels. (j). Representative images of liver stained with hematoxylin and eosin (100 μm) and the quantification of the liver cell necrotic area. (k). Representative images of immunofluorescence analyses of F4/80 (200 μm) and the quantification of the positive area. Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM. Two-tailed Student’s t-test or Mann–Whitney test. Columns with different letters differ significantly (P < 0.05). * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01. *** P < 0.001. Scale bar: 100 μm or 200 μm. Abbreviations: FXR, farnesoid X receptor; L. acidophilus, Lactobacillus acidophilus; GU, (z)-guggulsterone.