Sodium/bile acid cotransporter

Sodium/bile acid cotransporter (SLC10A2) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SLC10A2 gene. This protein is a member of the solute carrier family and is primarily found in the ileum, the final section of the small intestine. It plays a crucial role in the reabsorption of bile acids from the intestine, a process that is essential for the digestion and absorption of dietary fats.

Function

The sodium/bile acid cotransporter is an integral membrane glycoprotein that functions to transport bile acids from the ileal lumen into ileal enterocytes. This process is driven by the sodium gradient across the cell membrane, which is maintained by the sodium-potassium pump. The reabsorption of bile acids is a key step in the enterohepatic circulation, which recycles bile acids from the intestine to the liver.

Clinical significance

Mutations in the SLC10A2 gene can lead to a condition known as primary bile acid malabsorption (PBAM), also known as familial bile acid malabsorption. This is a rare disorder characterized by chronic diarrhea, steatorrhea, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. It is caused by a failure to reabsorb bile acids in the ileum, leading to an increased delivery of bile acids to the colon, where they stimulate water and electrolyte secretion, resulting in diarrhea.

See also

• Solute carrier family
• Bile acid
• Primary bile acid malabsorption