Work

Microbiota-liver axis in hepatic disease

Year: 2013

Type: review

Abstract: Accumulating evidence indicates that the gut microbiota, long appreciated to be a key determinant of intestinal inflammation, is also playing a key role in chronic inflammatory disease of the liver. Such studies have yielded a general central hypothesis whereby microbiota products activate the innate immune system to drive proinflammatory gene expression, thus promoting chronic inflammatory disease of the liver. This article reviews the background supporting this hypothesis, outlines how it can potentially explain classic and newly emerging epidemiological chronic inflammatory liver disease, and discusses potential therapeutic means to manipulate the microbiota so as to prevent and/or treat liver disease.

Source: Hepatology

DOI: 10.1002/hep.26494

Authors: Benoit Chassaing, Lucie Etienne-Mesmin, Andrew T. Gewirtz

Institution: Georgia State University

Language: English

Topic: Gut microbiota and health

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases