Tauro-β-muricholic acid restricts bile acid-induced hepatocellular apoptosis by preserving the mitochondrial membrane potential

► We demonstrate substantial antiapoptotic effects of TβMCA on hepatocyte apoptosis. ► TβMCA prevents bile acid-induced breakdown of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). ► TβMCA also restores the MMP when the free fatty acid palmitate is used as a hepatotoxin. β-Muricholic acid (βMCA) is a trihydroxylated bile acid that constitutes the major bile acid in rat and mouse. βMCA is more hydrophilic than ursodeoxycholic acid and has been evaluated for dissolution of cholesterol gallstones. Since it is unknown if βMCA has beneficial effects on hepatocyte cell death we determined the effect of tauro-βMCA (TβMCA) on apoptosis in vitro. Human Ntcp-transfected HepG2 cells and primary hepatocytes from rat and mouse were incubated with the proapoptotic glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA) as well as the free fatty acid palmitate in the absence and presence of TβMCA. Apoptosis was quantified using caspase 3/7-assays and after Hoechst 33342 staining. The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was measured fluorometrically using JC-1 (5,5′,6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′-tetraethyl-benzimidazol-carbocyaniniodide). Immunoblotting was performed against the proapoptotic Bcl-2-protein Bax. In Ntcp-HepG2 cells, GCDCA markedly increased apoptosis after 4h. Co-incubation with TβMCA reduced apoptosis to 49% (p