Interaction between mucus layer and gut microbiota in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Soil and seeds.
10.1097/CM9.0000000000002711
- Author:
Binbin ZHANG
1
;
Jie LI
2
;
Jinlong FU
3
;
Li SHAO
1
;
Luping YANG
4
;
Junping SHI
1
Author Information
1. Department of Translational Medicine Platform, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310015, China.
2. Department of Infectious Disease, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, China.
3. Department of School of Clinical Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China.
4. Department of Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Humans;
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/therapy*;
Gastrointestinal Microbiome;
Probiotics;
Prebiotics;
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation;
Bacteria;
Liver/pathology*
- From:
Chinese Medical Journal
2023;136(12):1390-1400
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The intestinal mucus layer is a barrier that separates intestinal contents and epithelial cells, as well as acts as the "mucus layer-soil" for intestinal flora adhesion and colonization. Its structural and functional integrity is crucial to human health. Intestinal mucus is regulated by factors such as diet, living habits, hormones, neurotransmitters, cytokines, and intestinal flora. The mucus layer's thickness, viscosity, porosity, growth rate, and glycosylation status affect the structure of the gut flora colonized on it. The interaction between "mucus layer-soil" and "gut bacteria-seed" is an important factor leading to the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and wash microbial transplantation are efficient methods for managing NAFLD, but their long-term efficacy is poor. FMT is focused on achieving the goal of treating diseases by enhancing the "gut bacteria-seed". However, a lack of effective repair and management of the "mucus layer-soil" may be a reason why "seeds" cannot be well colonized and grow in the host gut, as the thinning and destruction of the "mucus layer-soil" is an early symptom of NAFLD. This review summarizes the existing correlation between intestinal mucus and gut microbiota, as well as the pathogenesis of NAFLD, and proposes a new perspective that "mucus layer-soil" restoration combined with "gut bacteria-seed" FMT may be one of the most effective future strategies for enhancing the long-term efficacy of NAFLD treatment.
