Microbiota And Gut-Liver Axis: A Mini-Review On Their Influences On Obesity And Obesity Related Liver Disease.

ABSTRACT: A specific bacterial gut microbiota profile with increased extraction of calories has recently been associated with obesity, which has been shown to be a transmissible phenotype by microbiota transplantation. At the same time, there is now increasing evidence that gut microbiota plays a role in the development of hepatic steatosis and its progression to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, as well.This review summarizes well-known as well as unexpected interacting factors leading to obesity and its related hepatic diseases, including intestinal mucosal permeability and its regulation, gut microbiota and translocation of its biological products, and gut associated lymphoid tissue. These intestinal factors dictate also the balance between tolerance and immune response which are critical for most of the complications in near and far organs or systems.We will review novel mechanisms involving the development of gut permeability and adipose tissue plasticity, e.g. the crosstalk between the gut microbiota, lipopolysaccharide, high fat diet and the endocannabinoid system tone, which have hitherto not yet fully explored. Interactions between gut microbiota and other factors (e.g. inflammasome deficiency) will also be reviewed as emerging but far from being completely elucidated mechanisms influencing the onset of obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.