Sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide mediates dual actions of deoxycholic acid in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells: enhanced apoptosis versus growth stimulation

Purpose The hydrophobic bile acid, deoxycholic acid (DC), can induce apoptosis in hepatocytes. The roles of DC and its transporter are not yet established in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. We investigated DC-induced alterations in HCC cell growth, with a particular focus on the effect of the expression of bile acid (BA)-transporting Na+-dependent taurocholic cotransporting polypeptides...