Gut microbiota and Toll-like receptors set the stage for cytokine-mediated failure of antibacterial responses in the fibrotic liver

The gut–liver axis is increasingly recognised as a key contributor to chronic liver disease. A failing gut barrier contributes to increased bacterial translocation, which results in an elevated risk of bacterial infection and a chronic inflammatory state that may promote the progression of chronic liver disease and the development of long-term complications such as fibrosis and HCC.1 2 The most important clinical consequence of increased translocation is acute bacterial infection, a common cause of hospital admissions and a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in patients with cirrhosis. Moreover, bacterial infections can lead to acute decompensation, often triggering acute-on-chronic liver injury.3 On top of a leaky gut, patients with liver cirrhosis have severe defects in the innate immune system, affecting macrophages, neutrophils and the complement system.4 The liver itself represents an important immunological organ and is the first target of gut-derived...
Source: Gut - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Tags: Commentary Source Type: research