Protective effects of taurocholic acid on excessive hepatic lipid accumulation via regulation of bile acid metabolism in grouper

Abstract

Dietary bile acid (BA) supplementation can notably ameliorate fatty liver disease caused by high dietary lipids, but the mechanism behind this is poorly understood. The present study was aimed at gaining insight into how TCA (taurocholic acid sodium) reduced hepatic lipid accumulation via the regulation of bile acid metabolism. We explored BA metabolism in juvenile hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀ × E. lanceolatus♂). Three trials were: (1) fed the control, high lipid (HD) or gradient TCA diet; (2) fed a BA diet with or without antibiotics; and (3) injected with an agonist or antagonist of TGR5 (G protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1) and FXR (farnesoid X receptor). The results showed that the TCA diet (about 900 mg kg⁻¹) significantly reduced lipid accumulation in the liver, thus improving liver health. The HD suppressed the abundance of bile-salt hydrolase (BSH) microbes, thus decreasing the concentration of unconjugated primary BAs. TCA administration altered the gut microbial composition and weakened the effects of the HD, thus increasing the level of unconjugated BAs. TCA treatment increased the transport and reabsorption of BAs by activating the TGR5 and FXR signaling pathways, and increased the BA pool size. Furthermore, the presence of microbiota in the intestine increased BA reabsorption and the BA pool size. Our study revealed that exogenous TCA alters the structure of intestinal microbiota and BA composition, then activated the FXR expression, thus regulating the BA metabolism via enhanced BA reabsorption. This, in turn, reduced lipid accumulation and improved the health of the liver in grouper.