Current insights into the interplay between gut microbiota-derived metabolites and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease

Rachmad Anres Dongoran; Fang-Cen Tu; Chin-Hung Liu

doi:10.4103/tcmj.tcmj_122_23

Current insights into the interplay between gut microbiota-derived metabolites and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease

Tzu Chi Med J. 2023 Sep 7;35(4):290-299. doi: 10.4103/tcmj.tcmj_122_23. eCollection 2023 Oct-Dec.

Authors

Rachmad Anres Dongoran^{1

2

3}, Fang-Cen Tu⁴, Chin-Hung Liu^{4

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Indonesian Food and Drug Authority, Jakarta, Indonesia.
² Center for Chinese Studies, National Central Library, Taipei, Taiwan.
³ Program in Asia Pacific Regional Studies, Department of Taiwan and Regional Studies, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan.
⁴ Program in Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
⁶ Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.

Abstract

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a prevalent and challenging disease associated with a significant health and economic burden. MAFLD has been subjected to and widely investigated in many studies; however, the underlying pathogenesis and its progression have yet to understand fully. Furthermore, precise biomarkers for diagnosing and specific drugs for treatment are yet to be discovered. Increasing evidence has proven gut microbiota as the neglected endocrine organ that regulates homeostasis and immune response. Targeting gut microbiota is an essential strategy for metabolic diseases, including MAFLD. Gut microbiota in the gut-liver axis is connected through tight bidirectional links through the biliary tract, portal vein, and systemic circulation, producing gut microbiota metabolites. This review focuses on the specific correlation between gut microbiota metabolites and MAFLD. Gut microbiota metabolites are biologically active in the host and, through subsequent changes and biological activities, provide implications for MAFLD. Based on the review studies, gut-liver axis related-metabolites including short-chain fatty acids, bile acids (BAs), lipopolysaccharide, choline and its metabolites, indole and its derivates, branched-chain amino acids, and methionine cycle derivates was associated with MAFLD and could be promising MAFLD diagnosis biomarkers, as well as the targets for MAFLD new drug discovery.

Keywords: Gut microbiota-metabolites; Gut-liver axis; Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease.

Publication types

Review