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

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