NorUDCA improves liver injury and glucose sensitivity in a mouse model of obesity and steatosis

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease ranges from simple benign steatosis to the more severe forms of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis and ultimately hepatocellular carcinoma. The leptin deficient mouse (ob/ob) mimics metabolic syndrome and suffers from hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, hepatic steatosis and inflammation. Bile acids (BA) operate via nuclear and G protein-coupled receptors. Currently, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the only BA used as therapeutic in humans, but showed only limited efficacy in NASH. NorUDCA is a side-chained shortened derivative of UDCA i…