Hypothalamic Sensing of Bile Acids, a Gut Feeling

Abstract

Bile acids facilitate dietary fat absorption upon release into the small intestine after a meal. A recent study by Liu and colleagues identifies a gut-brain axis wherein bile acids signal an energy-replete state to hypothalamic AgRP neurons via activation of neuronal FGF receptors, which orchestrate whole-body glucose metabolism.

Keywords: AgRP neurons; bile acids; fibroblast growth factors; glucose metabolism; hypothalamus.