J Bacteriol Virol.  2012 Dec;42(4):359-362. 10.4167/jbv.2012.42.4.359.

Regulation of Obesity and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases by Modulation of the Gut Microbiota Through Inflammasome; its Mechanism and Potential for Clinical Use

• Nam JH

• KMID: 2168673
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4167/jbv.2012.42.4.359

Abstract

The revelation that gut microbes are associated with the pathogenesis of human diseases such as obesity, colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and liver-related diseases has resulted in the role of gut microbes becoming a novel research topic in basic and clinical science. Recently, emphasis has been placed on the role of gut microbes in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its progressive form, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Researchers have suggested that inflammasome deficiency-changed dysbiosis is associated with exacerbating NAFLD/NASH progression. This particular study also showed a direct 'gut-liver axis' regulated by modulation of gut microbiota. This paper (Nature 2012;482: 179-185) was summarized herein and the potential clinical applications were discussed.

Keyword

Inflammasome; Gut microbiota; Dysbiosis; NAFLD; NASH

MeSH Terms

Colonic Neoplasms
Fatty Liver
Humans
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Metagenome
Obesity
Fatty Liver

Figure

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  Figure 1 Structural diagram and mechanism for the regulation of inflammasome (modified and adapted from reference 1 and 3).

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  Figure 2 Summary of the severity of NASH, as determined by ALT and AST, as well as of the NAFLD activity score determined by histological scores for steatosis and inflammation. The term 'co-housed mouse' refers to a mouse placed in the same cage as the tested mouse. The 'tested mouse' indicates mice on which several biological inspections were conducted (modified and adapted from reference 1).

Reference

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