Effect of tauroursodeoxycholic acid on bile acid-induced apoptosis in primary human hepatocytes

Background/aims The accumulation of endogenous bile acids contributes to hepatocellular damage during cholestatic liver disease. To evaluate the potential role of apoptotic cell death due to increased concentrations of bile acids, primary human hepatocytes were treated with hydrophobic and hydrophilic bile acids. Because the Fas receptor–ligand system may mediate apoptosis in human liver cells, the effect of toxic bile acids on hepatocellular Fas receptor expression was evaluated. Materials and methods Primary human hepatocytes were incubated with 50 and 100 μM glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA) and co-incubated with equimolar concentrations of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA). To evaluate…