Abstract:
Although the liver is the largest metabolic organ in the body, it is not alone in functionality and is assisted by \"an organ inside an organ,\" the gut microbiota. This review attempts to shed light on the partnership between the liver and the gut microbiota in the metabolism of macronutrients (i.e., proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids). All nutrients absorbed by the small intestines are delivered to the liver for further metabolism. Undigested food that enters the colon is metabolized further by the gut microbiota that produces secondary metabolites, which are absorbed into portal circulation and reach the liver. These microbiota-derived metabolites and co-metabolites include ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, short-chain fatty acids, secondary bile acids, and trimethylamine N-oxide. Further, the liver produces several compounds, such as bile acids that can alter the gut microbial composition, which can in turn influence liver health. This review focuses on the metabolism of these microbiota metabolites and their influence on host physiology. Furthermore, the review briefly delineates the effect of the portosystemic shunt on the gut microbiota-liver axis, and current understanding of the treatments to target the gut microbiota-liver axis.
摘要:
虽然肝脏是人体最大的代谢器官,它在功能上并不孤单,并由“器官内部的器官”辅助,“肠道微生物群。这篇综述试图阐明肝脏和肠道微生物群在大量营养素代谢中的伙伴关系(即,蛋白质,碳水化合物,和脂质)。小肠吸收的所有营养物质都被输送到肝脏进行进一步的代谢。进入结肠的未消化食物被肠道微生物群进一步代谢,产生次级代谢产物,被吸收到门静脉循环并到达肝脏。这些微生物群衍生的代谢物和共代谢物包括氨,硫化氢,短链脂肪酸,次级胆汁酸,和三甲胺N-氧化物。Further,肝脏产生几种化合物,例如胆汁酸可以改变肠道微生物组成,这反过来会影响肝脏健康。本文就这些微生物代谢产物的代谢及其对宿主生理的影响作一综述。此外,这篇综述简要描述了门体分流对肠道微生物群-肝轴的影响,以及目前对靶向肠道微生物群-肝轴的治疗方法的理解。