The gut-liver axis in liver disease: Pathophysiological basis for therapy.

Albillos, Agustín; De Gottardi, Andrea; Rescigno, María (2020). The gut-liver axis in liver disease: Pathophysiological basis for therapy. Journal of hepatology, 72(3), pp. 558-577. Elsevier 10.1016/j.jhep.2019.10.003

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The gut-liver axis refers to the bidirectional relationship between the gut and its microbiota, and the liver, resulting from the integration of signals generated by dietary, genetic and environmental factors. This reciprocal interaction is established by the portal vein which enables transport of gut-derived products directly to the liver, and the liver feedback route of bile and antibody secretion to the intestine. The intestinal mucosal and vascular barrier is the functional and anatomical structure that serves as a playground for the interactions between the gut and the liver, limiting the systemic dissemination of microbes and toxins while allowing nutrients to access the circulation and to reach the liver. The control of microbial communities is critical to maintaining homeostasis of the gut-liver axis, and as part of this bidirectional communication the liver shapes intestinal microbial communities. Alcohol disrupts the gut-liver axis at multiple interconnected levels, including the gut microbiome, mucus barrier, epithelial barrier and at the level of antimicrobial peptide production, which increases microbial exposure and the proinflammatory environment of the liver. Growing evidence indicates the pathogenetic role of microbe-derived metabolites, such as trimethylamine, secondary bile acids, short-chain fatty acids and ethanol, in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Cirrhosis by itself is associated with profound alterations in gut microbiota and damage at the different levels of defence of the intestinal barrier, including the epithelial, vascular and immune barriers. The relevance of the severe disturbance of the intestinal barrier in cirrhosis has been linked to translocation of live bacteria, bacterial infections and disease progression. The identification of the elements of the gut-liver axis primarily damaged in each chronic liver disease offers possibilities for intervention. Beyond antibiotics, upcoming therapies centred on the gut include new generations of probiotics, bacterial metabolites (postbiotics), faecal microbial transplantation, and carbon nanoparticles. FXR-agonists target both the gut and the liver and are currently being tested in different liver diseases. Finally, synthetic biotic medicines, phages that target specific bacteria or therapies that create physical barriers between the gut and the liver offer new therapeutic approaches.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Review Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gastro-intestinal, Liver and Lung Disorders (DMLL) > Clinic of Visceral Surgery and Medicine > Hepatology
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > DBMR Forschung Mu35 > Forschungsgruppe Hepatologie
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > DBMR Forschung Mu35 > Forschungsgruppe Hepatologie

UniBE Contributor:

De Gottardi, Andrea

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1600-0641

Publisher:

Elsevier

Language:

English

Submitter:

Rahel Fuhrer

Date Deposited:

15 Dec 2020 16:35

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:42

Publisher DOI:

10.1016/j.jhep.2019.10.003

PubMed ID:

31622696

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Bile Cirrhosis Farnesoid X receptor Intestinal barrier Microbiome

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.148408

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/148408

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