Trauner M.: Therapeutic potential of bile acid signaling for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Dr. Alex Knisely is talking to, or with, or even maybe mostly listening to Prof. Dr. Michael Trauner, of Vienna – Professor Trauner has a lot to say on today’s topic, on which he recently provided the keynote address at the May, 2023, annual meeting of ESPGHAN. The topic is bile acids: They’re paracrine and endocrine hormones, not just lipid solubilisers ; modified versions offer promise in modulating and treating many paediatric and adult hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal processes and disorders ; in short, physiology has no magicks in which they are not involved. They are, taken together, a lapis philosophorum or rather hepatogastroenterologorum. That is, the subject is alchemically complex, and to consult the recent review of the field by Prof. Dr. Trauner and his colleague Dr. Claudia Fuchs (Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022;19:432-50) may help us all get the most from his contribution today. Please note: This is the second of three podcasts related to annual- meeting events, a week apart, with a return to Journal Club after another week. Mark your calendars for Prof Christos Tsivinikos on aerodigestive-disease services to paediatric patients, available on 8 June, and then on 15 June Dr Andreas Jenke — Journal Club again!