Fig. 7From: The intestinal microbiota regulates host cholesterol homeostasisMicrobial regulation of whole-body cholesterol fluxes and enterohepatic cycle. Microbiota depletion in Apoe−/− mice raises plasma VLDL and LDL cholesterol. Microbiota-depleted mice have increased intestinal cholesterol absorption, hepatic cholesterol uptake, and hepatic cholesterol and bile acid synthesis. Bile secretion is also increased in microbiota-depleted mice, which is associated with increased fecal excretion of bile acids. Microbiota depletion is associated with a decrease in fgf15 expression in the distal ileum, thus alleviating feedback inhibition of hepatic bile acid synthesisBack to article page