Gut microbial dysbiosis is associated with metabolism and immune factors in liver fibrosis mice

Abstract

Gut microbial dysbiosis has always served as a potential factor in the occurrence and development of liver fibrosis. Liver and gut microflora can regulate each other through the gut-liver axis. In this study, the 16S rRNA and RNA-seq were chosen to sequence gut microbiota alteration and liver differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) included-liver fibrosis mice, and analyze the correlations between gut microbiota constituents and DEGs. Results indicated that, CCl4 significantly increased the abundance of Desulfobactera in the phylum level, destroyed gut microbiota balance in the genus levels, especially Enterorhabdus and Desulfovibrio. Through analysis, 1416 genes were found differentially expressed in mice liver tissue in the CCl4 Group, compared with the Control Group; and the DEGs were mainly involved in the lipid metabolic process and immune system process. The correlation analysis revealed that the relative abundance of microbiota phylum (Desulfobactera) and genus (Enterorhabdus and Desulfovibrio) was negatively correlated with the metabolism related genes, while positively correlated with immune-related genes and the genes enriched in PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. To sum up, CCl4 can partially regulate gene expression in metabolism, immune response and the PI3K/Akt pathway, and further maintain the stability of the gut environment in liver fibrosis mice.