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Gut-liver axis and fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: an input for novel therapies.

Authors :
Frasinariu OE
Ceccarelli S
Alisi A
Moraru E
Nobili V
Source :
Digestive and liver disease : official journal of the Italian Society of Gastroenterology and the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver [Dig Liver Dis] 2013 Jul; Vol. 45 (7), pp. 543-51. Date of Electronic Publication: 2012 Dec 29.
Publication Year :
2013

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a multifactorial condition, ranging from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis with or without fibrosis. In non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, alteration of gut microbiota and increased intestinal permeability increase exposure of the liver to gut-derived bacterial products: lipopolysaccharides and unmethylated CpG DNA. These products stimulate innate immune receptors, namely Toll-like receptors, which activate signalling pathways involved in liver inflammation and fibrogenesis. Currently, there are several studies on the involvement of lipopolysaccharide-activated Toll-like receptor 4 signalling in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease pathogenesis. There has been widespread interest in the study of the involvement of resident hepatic stellate cells and Kupffer cells activation in liver fibrogenesis upon TLR4 stimulation. Although the best evidence to support a role for gut microbiota in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-induced fibrosis comes largely from animal models, data from human studies are accumulating and could lead to new therapeutic approaches. Therapeutic modulation of gut microflora may be an alternative strategy to develop an anti-fibrotic therapy. In this review, we discuss the relevant role of gut-liver axis in non-alcoholic liver disease-associated liver fibrosis and discuss the evidence on novel anti-fibrotic therapeutic approaches.<br /> (Copyright © 2012 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1878-3562
Volume :
45
Issue :
7
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Digestive and liver disease : official journal of the Italian Society of Gastroenterology and the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
23280158
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dld.2012.11.010