Research advances on gut microbiota dysbiosis and chronic liver diseases: a review

TL;DR

This review explores how gut microbiota imbalances are linked to chronic liver diseases and discusses potential treatments like probiotics and dietary changes.

Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive synthesis of recent research on gut microbiota's role in chronic liver diseases and novel therapeutic strategies.

Findings

Gut microbiota dysbiosis is linked to chronic liver diseases via the gut-liver axis.

Microbial imbalance affects liver disease progression through immune and metabolic pathways.

Therapies like FMT and probiotics show promise in modulating gut microbiota for liver disease management.

Abstract

The gut microbiota is fundamental to human health, maintaining intricate symbiotic interactions with the host. Accumulating evidence highlights a critical association between gut microbiota dysbiosis and the initiation and progression of chronic liver diseases (CLDs). Particularly hepatitis B virus (HBV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, alcoholic liver disease (ALD), metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and cirrhosis. This microbial imbalance may contribute to the progression of CLDs primarily via the “gut-liver axis,” the mechanisms involve gut barrier dysfunction, abnormal immune regulation, and metabolic alterations. This review synthesizes cutting-edge research on the interplay between gut dysregulation and CLDs, elaborating molecular mechanistic pathways including the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, AMPK pathway, and farnesoid X receptor (FXR)-mediated bile acid signaling. Additionally, it discusses clinically oriented therapeutic strategies targeting microbiota modulation, including probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and personalized dietary interventions, offering innovative insights for the prevention and management of chronic liver diseases.

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