Ursodeoxycholic acid (UCDA) is increasingly used for the treatment of cholestatic liver
diseases. Experimental evidence suggests three major mechanisms of action:(1) protection
of cholangiocytes against cytotoxicity of hydrophobic bile acids, resulting from modulation of
the composition of mixed phospholipid-rich micelles, reduction of bile acid cytotoxicity of bile
and, possibly, decrease of the concentration of hydrophobic bile acids in the
cholangiocytes;(2) stimulation of hepatobiliary secretion, putatively via Ca 2+-and protein …