Bile acid-induced modulation of virus replication

Bile acids function as signaling molecules. As such they are involved in cellular immunological processes mainly mediating anti-inflammatory effects. They suppress cell-mediated innate and adaptive immunity through different signaling pathways, e.g. mediated by the nuclear bile acid receptor farnesoid x receptor (FXR) or the G-coupled receptor TGR5 at the outer plasma membrane. In the past it became increasingly evident that bile acids also modulate viral replication, which is reviewed herein.