Effect of vitamin K on bile acid metabolism via nuclear receptors

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K14813
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 38050:Food sciences-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Sultana Halima 東北大学, スマート・エイジング学際重点研究センター, 助教 (50866837)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Vitamin K / Bile acid metabolism / PXR

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of the current study was to reveal the mechanism of Vitamin K on bile acids (BA) metabolism via human PXR. I found that cholic acid (CA) administration for 1 or 2 weeks causes damage to the liver of hPXR female mice. Though ALP level was increased insignificantly, ALT, LAP, AST, total bilirubin, and BA levels were increased significantly in the serum due to CA treatment. Moreover, MK-4 treatment tends to reduce the serum level of ALT, AST, LAP, and total BA in these mice. I found no significant effect of MK-4 treatment on the expression of BA-related genes in these CA-treated mice.

Free Research Field

Vitamin K, PXR

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

It was found that VK defficiency is commonly observed in cholestatic liver disease. However,the mechanism of the effect of VK on cholestasis-related liver disease is not revealed yet. This research could reveal the validation of VK treatment on cholestatic liver disease.