Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
Bile acid receptor signaling in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Mechanistic insights and emerging therapeutic strategies
Sanjay Bandyopadhyay, Department of Gastroenterology, ILS Dumdum Hospital, Kolkata 700080, West Bengal, India
Shambo Samrat Samajdar, Department of Out-Patient Affiliation, Diabetes and Allergy-Asthma Therapeutic Specialty Clinic, Kolkata 700059, West Bengal, India
Shatavisa Mukherjee, Department of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata 700073, West Bengal, India
Shashank R Joshi, Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai 400050, Maharasthra, India
Author contributions: Bandyopadhyay S and Joshi SR contributed to the conceptualization and overall design of the study, provided senior academic and clinical oversight, and critically revised the manuscript for important intellectual content; Samajdar SS and Mukherjee S were responsible for the literature review, methodological planning, data synthesis and interpretation, and drafting of the manuscript. All authors reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Sanjay Bandyopadhyay, DM, FRCP, Senior Consultant, Department of Gastroenterology, ILS Dumdum Hospital, 1 Mall Road, Kolkata 700080, West Bengal, India. drsanjaygastro@gmail.com
Received: January 5, 2026
Revised: February 10, 2026
Accepted: April 3, 2026
Published online: June 27, 2026
Processing time: 165 Days and 11.4 Hours
Revised: February 10, 2026
Accepted: April 3, 2026
Published online: June 27, 2026
Processing time: 165 Days and 11.4 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) represents a global health challenge with limited pharmacological options. This review highlights the emerging role of bile acid receptors - particularly farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and Takeda G-protein-coupled receptor 5 - as therapeutic targets in MASLD. It synthesizes recent advances in receptor signaling, gut microbiota-bile acid interactions, and the development of FXR agonists, norursodeoxycholic acid, and dual FXR/Takeda G-protein-coupled receptor 5 agents. The review also outlines future directions in precision he