How gut bile-acid sensors FXR and TGR5 may protect people with short bowel syndrome
Role of bile acid receptors FXR and TGR5 in preventing injury in short bowel syndrome
This work looks at whether turning on two gut bile-acid sensors, FXR and TGR5, can help prevent liver and gut damage in people with short bowel syndrome.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Saint Louis University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11144441 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study how the gut-liver signaling pathways driven by bile acids (the FXR-FGF19 and TGR5-GLP systems) change after large bowel removal and during dependence on intravenous nutrition. They will use laboratory models (including animal experiments) and tissue or blood samples to see if restoring these signals prevents gut shrinkage and liver injury. The team will test compounds or approaches that mimic bile-acid activation of FXR and TGR5 and measure gut structure, liver markers, and signaling molecules. If human samples or patients are involved, those activities would be coordinated through Saint Louis University.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with short bowel syndrome—especially those dependent on total parenteral nutrition or showing gut atrophy or liver problems—would be the most relevant candidates for this line of work.
Not a fit: People without short bowel syndrome or whose symptoms stem from unrelated causes would not be expected to benefit, and early-stage laboratory findings may not immediately translate into treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new treatments that preserve intestinal health and prevent liver damage in people with short bowel syndrome, potentially reducing complications from long-term IV nutrition.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research supports a role for bile-acid signaling in gut and liver health, but applying FXR and TGR5–targeted approaches specifically to short bowel syndrome is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Saint Louis University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jain, Ajay K. — Saint Louis University
- Study coordinator: Jain, Ajay K.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.