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Current Medicinal Chemistry

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 0929-8673
ISSN (Online): 1875-533X

Review Article

Farnesoid-X Receptor (FXR) as a Promising Pharmaceutical Target in Atherosclerosis

Author(s): Demetrios Moris, Constantinos Giaginis*, Gerasimos Tsourouflis and Stamatios Theocharis

Volume 24, Issue 11, 2017

Page: [1147 - 1157] Pages: 11

DOI: 10.2174/0929867324666170124151940

Price: $65

Abstract

Background: Atherosclerosis (AS) is a major cause of death and morbidity in Western world and is strongly connected with atherogenic lipoproteins and inflammation. Bile acids (BA) act as activating signals of endogenous ligands such as Farnesoid-X receptor (FXR). Primary data indicate a potential role of FXR in AS. The therapeutic value of FXR ligands in AS is unknown.

Objective: With the present review, we analyzed the efficacy of FXR agonists as a therapeutic modalities against AS. In this aspect, we performed an electronic search through Pub- Med/MEDLINE database by using the key terms: FXR*, Farnesoid X receptor*, atherosclerosis*, bile acids* and agonism*.

Conclusion: According to our analysis, the FXR seems to be a promising therapeutic target in the atherosclerosis natural history. FXR agonism could exert protective effects in the development and evolution of AS. However, concomitant side effects such as the reduction of plasma HDL have been reported. Finally, results from undergoing clinical trials with synthetic FXR agonists will shed more light to the precise role of FXR agonism in AS treatment.

Keywords: FXR, atherosclerosis, agonist, bile acids, pharmaceutical target, clinical trials.


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