Liver X receptor: A potential target for inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer (Review)

Liver X receptor (LXR), comprising isoforms LXRα and LXRβ, is a member of the nuclear receptor family, which serves important roles in maintaining cholesterol and lipid metabolism homeostasis by regulating cholesterol excretion and reverse transport. LXR activation also participates in regulating the pathological processes of inflammation and tumor‑related processes, such as proliferation and apoptosis. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC) are two common intestinal inflammatory diseases, and the occurrence of CRC is closely associated with the development of chronic inflammation, particularly IBD. To date, the pathogenesis of IBD and CRC remains to be fully elucidated, although research is being conducted in this area. LXR has been suggested to participate in regulating the pathogenesis of both IBD and CRC. Although previous findings illustrate the benefits of LXR activation on intestinal inflammatory response and cancer, there remains a lack of comprehensive understanding of how LXR exerts its properties. The present review provided an overview of the recent advances in understanding the roles of LXR in IBD and CRC, to explore the potential therapeutic strategies and targets mediated by the dual roles of LXR in immune modulation and cholesterol metabolism, and to identify the link between IBD and CRC. The present review highlighted the novel role of LXR in bridging metabolic regulation and immune homeostasis, positioning it as a promising therapeutic target for IBD and CRC.