Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common form of chronic liver disease throughout the world. The relationship between gut microbiota and NAFLD has been extensively investigated. The gut microbiota is involved in the regulation of NAFLD by participating in the fermentation of indigestible food, interacting with the intestinal mucosal immune system, and influencing the intestinal barrier function, leading to signaling alteration. Meanwhile, the microbial metabolites not only affect the signal transduction pathway in the gut but also reach the liver far away from gut. In this review, we focus on the effects of certain key microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, trimethylamine-N-oxide, bile acids, and endogenous ethanol and indole in NAFLD, and also summarize several potential therapies targeting the gut–liver axis and modulation of gut microbiota metabolites including antibiotics, prebiotics, probiotics, bile acid regulation, and fecal microbiota transplantation. Understanding the complex interactions between microbial metabolites and NAFLD may provide crucial insight into the pathogenesis and treatment of NAFLD.
Highlights
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common forms of chronic liver disease throughout the world
This review focuses on the effects of certain critical microbial metabolites in NAFLD and summarizes several potential targets of gut–liver axis, gut microbiota, and its metabolites in NAFLD
In a cross-sectional investigation in Italy, the researchers found that TMAO levels increased along with BMI and were positively associated with fatty liver index (FLI), a predictor of NAFLD (Barrea et al, 2018)
Summary
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common forms of chronic liver disease throughout the world. Microbial Metabolites in NAFLD blood flow in the liver sinusoids permits interactions between gut-derived signals and hepatocytes, other liver parenchymal cells, and liver immune cells; this is further promoted by the fenestrated endothelium in the sinusoids. The microbial metabolites work as invisible hands that can reach the liver far away from where the gut microbiota resides and can regulate energy balance, immune response, intestinal barrier function, and signaling. In this way, microbial metabolites work as critical regulators in NAFLD
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