Gut microbiota alters host bile acid metabolism to contribute to intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. human gut metagenome

The aetiology and mechanism of ICP are poorly understood; thus, existing therapies have been largely empiric. Here we show that the gut microbiome differed significantly between individuals with ICP and healthy pregnant women, and that colonization with gut microbiome from ICP patients was sufficient to induce cholestasis in mice. We propose that modulation of the gut microbiota-bile acid-FXR axis may be of value for ICP treatment.