Gut-liver Axis: Recent concepts in pathophysiology in alcohol-associated liver disease.

Abstract

The growing recognition of the role of the gut microbiome's impact on alcohol-related diseases, especially in alcohol-associated liver disease, emphasizes the need to understand molecular mechanisms involved in governing organ-organ communication to identify novel avenues to combat alcohol-related diseases. The gut-liver axis refers to the bidirectional communication and interaction between gut and liver. Intestinal microbiota play a pivotal role in maintaining homeostasis within the gut-liver axis and this axis plays a significant role in alcohol-associated liver disease. The intricate communication between intestine and liver involves communication between multiple cellular components in each organ that enable them to carry out their physiological functions. In this review, we focus on novel approaches to understanding how chronic alcohol exposure impacts the microbiome, and individual cells within the liver and intestine, as well as the impact of ethanol on the molecular machinery required for intra- and inter-organ communication.