Abstract: Objective Bile acid(BA) is synthesized in the liver and is the major component of bile. BAs accumulates in serum and liver when BAs secretion is impaired, which is followed by liver injury. The molecular mechanism of cholestasis has been extensively studied, however, it remains controversial. Recent studies showed that BAs might induce hepatocyte injury under pathological conditions, and the mechanism involved inflammatory response induced by stressed hepatocytes. In this article, we reviewed recent advances in the pathogenesis of liver injury induced by BAs and we focused on how BAs induce the activation of inflammatory cytokines that further induce the aggregation of immune cells. Based on these pathogenesis, we tentatively point out a number of novel treatments for cholestatic liver damage.

Key words: Cholestatic liver injury, Bile acids, Inflammatory cytokines, Immune cells, Signaling pathways, Cholangiocytes