pdf: Contribution of gut bacteria to liver pathobiology

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Contribution of gut bacteria to liver pathobiology.

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20706692>

Son G, Kremer M, Hines IN.

Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2010;2010. pii: 453563.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/20706692/?tool=pubmed

Emerging evidence suggests a strong interaction between the gut

microbiota and health and disease. The interactions of the gut

microbiota and the liver have only recently been investigated in detail.

Receiving approximately 70% of its blood supply from the intestinal

venous outflow, the liver represents the first line of defense against

gut-derived antigens and is equipped with a broad array of immune cells

(i.e., macrophages, lymphocytes, natural killer cells, and dendritic

cells) to accomplish this function. In the setting of tissue injury,

whereby the liver is otherwise damaged (e.g., viral infection, toxin

exposure, ischemic tissue damage, etc.), these same immune cell

populations and their interactions with the infiltrating gut bacteria

likely contribute to and promote these pathologies. The following paper

will highlight recent studies investigating the relationship between the

gut microbiota, liver biology, and pathobiology. Defining these

connections will likely provide new targets for therapy or prevention of

a wide variety of acute and chronic liver pathologies.