Role of bile acid receptors in the regulation of cardiovascular diseases

Abstract Bile acid receptors regulate lipid homeostasis, carbohydrate homeostasis, drug metabolism, energy consumption and inflammatory responses in response to bile acids and drugs. Cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and vascular calcification are major complications in patients with diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, dyslipidemia and aging. Cardiovascular complications have a risk of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Bile acid modulators including agonists and antagonists are effective at treating cardiovascular diseases and improving outcomes. In this chapter, we summarize basic bile acid receptor signaling and functions, and effects of bile acid receptor modulations in the development of cardiovascular diseases.