Table 1.

Bile acid receptors and their respective expression and function

Bile acid receptor	Cell/tissue expression	Function/effects
FXR	Liver	Downregulates triglyceride, fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis
		Increases fatty acid oxidation
		Increases lipolysis
		Decreases gluconeogenesis
		Promotes glycogen synthesis
		Exerts antiinflammatory and antifibrotic effects
		Promotes liver regeneration
	Pancreas	Stimulates insulin secretion
	Intestine	Stimulates bile acid reabsorption
		Stimulates FGF19 production
		Exerts antiinflammatory and antifibrotic effects
	Skeletal muscle and adipocytes	Increases glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity
		Increases adipogenesis and lipid storage
	Kidney	Exerts antiinflammatory and antifibrotic effects
	Vascular smooth muscle cells	Exerts antiatherogenic effects
	Vascular endothelial cells	Exerts antihypertension effects
	Macrophages	Exerts antiinflammatory effects
TGR5	Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells	Vasodilation
	Cholangiocytes	Exerts antiapoptotic and antiinflammatory effects
	Macrophages	Exerts antiinflammatory effects
	Gallbladder	Gallbladder filling
	Pancreas	Stimulates insulin secretion
	Skeletal muscle and brown adipose tissue	Increases energy expenditure
	Intestinal L cells	Stimulates GLP-1 secretion
	Enteric neurons	Promotes motility or peristalsis
	Primary spinal afferent and sensory neurons	Induces neuronal hyper excitability and release of GRP (gastrin-releasing peptide)