Treatment of MASLD from Intestinal Microbial-mitochondrial Interactions Based on "Spleen and Stomach-Xuanluo" Theory
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20250625
- VernacularTitle:基于“脾胃-玄络”理论从肠道微生物-线粒体互作论治代谢相关脂肪性肝病
- Author:
Ran ZHAO
1
;
Bingjiu LU
2
;
Jingran SUN
2
;
Jialian ZHENG
2
;
Qing XU
3
Author Information
1. Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine（TCM）， Shenyang 110847，China
2. Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of TCM， Shenyang 110032，China
3. Huaibei Hospital of TCM， Huaibei 235000，China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
metabolism-associated fatty liver disease;
Xuanluo;
spleen and stomach;
intestinal microorganism;
mitochondrial dysfunction
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2025;31(24):220-227
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has long recognized metabolism-associated fatty liver disease （MASLD）. The Classic of Difficulties （Nan Jing） records that "the accumulation of the liver is called obese Qi". ZHANG Jingyue also stated， "People with spleen and stomach deficiency and weakness or imbalance often suffer from diseases of accumulation". According to syndrome differentiation of the Zang-fu organs， modern physicians generally believe that the key pathogenesis of MASLD lies in the deficiency of spleen and stomach functions. However， MASLD is a chronic and complex disease， and its pathological characteristics cannot be fully explained by a single Zang-Fu syndrome differentiation. The concepts of sweat pores and collateral vessels emerged as early as the Huangdi's Internal Classic （Huang Di Nei Jing）， and later TCM scholars， based on the idea that "sweat pore is the gateway of collateral vessels" proposed the concept of Xuanluo （sweat pores-collateral vessels）. Xuanluo refers to fine structures widely distributed throughout the human body， serving as hubs and channels that regulate the movement and distribution of Qi， blood， and body fluids. By linking the Zang-Fu organs with Xuanluo， a theoretical framework of Qi， blood， and body fluid circulation centered on the "spleen and stomach-Xuanluo" as a whole was established， providing a new perspective for analyzing the essential pathogenesis of MASLD. Combined with the mechanisms involved in the formation and progression of MASLD， the intrinsic correlations between TCM pathogenesis and modern microscopic mechanisms are further analyzed. Modern studies have shown that intestinal microbial dysbiosis and mitochondrial dysfunction are pathological mechanisms involved in the occurrence and development of MASLD， but few have discussed the two as an integrated system. Existing research has confirmed that intestinal microorganisms can affect mitochondrial energy metabolism and oxidative stress through their metabolites， leading to hepatic energy metabolism disorders， oxidative stress （OS）， and inflammation， thereby promoting MASLD progression. Focusing on the correspondence between the "spleen and stomach-Xuanluo" theory and the intestinal microorganism-mitochondrion micro-pathological mechanism， it is proposed that the spleen and stomach share similarities with intestinal microorganisms in the generation of Qi， blood， and body fluids as well as in the regulation of Qi movement， while Xuanluo and mitochondria have commonalities in energy regulation. Moreover， harmonizing the spleen and stomach to ensure unobstructed Xuanluo is the key to maintaining the normal interaction mechanism between intestinal microorganisms and mitochondria. Based on the correlation between the "spleen and stomach-Xuanluo" theory and the intestinal microorganism-mitochondrion interaction， this paper reveals that the essence of MASLD pathogenesis lies in spleen and stomach dysfunction， specifically， failure of the spleen to ascend the clear and failure of the stomach to descend the turbid， resulting in insufficient transformation of Qi and blood， impaired nourishment of Xuanluo， stagnation of Qi and blood， and the long-term formation of phlegm and blood stasis in the liver. Furthermore， it explores the preventive and therapeutic effects of tonifying the spleen and stomach， dredging Xuanluo and collaterals， unblocking the bowels， and regulating Qi in the treatment of MASLD， thereby providing new insights for its prevention and therapy.
