Gut⁻Liver Axis: How Do Gut Bacteria Influence the Liver?

Overview

Journal Med Sci (Basel)

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2018 Sep 20

PMID 30227645

Citations 68

Authors

Peter Christopher Konturek

Igor Alexander Harsch

Kathrin Konturek

Monic Schink

Thomas Konturek

Markus F Neurath

Yurdaguel Zopf

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Chronic liver diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recently, gut dysbiosis was identified as an important factor in the pathogenesis of liver diseases. The relationship between gut microbiota and the liver is still not well understood; however, dysfunction of the gut mucosal barrier ("leaky gut") and increased bacterial translocation into the liver via the gut⁻liver axis probably play crucial roles in liver disease development and progression. The liver is an important immunological organ, and, after exposure to gut-derived bacteria via portal circulation, it responds with activation of the innate and adaptive immune system, leading to hepatic injury. A better understanding of the pathophysiological links among gut dysbiosis, the integrity of the gut barrier, and the hepatic immune response to gut-derived factors is essential for the development of new therapies to treat chronic liver diseases.

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