Review
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World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. Nov 15, 2014; 5(4): 514-522
Published online Nov 15, 2014. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v5.i4.514
Alterations of the gut microbiome and metabolome in alcoholic liver disease
Wei Zhong, Zhanxiang Zhou
Wei Zhong, Zhanxiang Zhou, Center for Translational Biomedical Research, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC 28081, United States
Zhanxiang Zhou, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27412, United States
Author contributions: Zhong W and Zhou Z worked together on the concept and outline of the article and the specific chapters were written by one of the authors in equal contribution.
Correspondence to: Zhanxiang Zhou, Professor, Center for Translational Biomedical Research, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina Research Campus, 500 Laureate Way, Suite 4226, Kannapolis, NC 28081, United States. z_zhou@uncg.edu
Telephone: +1-704-2505800 Fax: +1-704-2505809
Received: May 24, 2014
Revised: July 1, 2014
Accepted: September 6, 2014
Published online: November 15, 2014
Processing time: 179 Days and 4.7 Hours
Abstract

Alcohol consumption is one of the leading causes of liver diseases and liver-related death worldwide. The gut is a habitat for billions of microorganisms which promotes metabolism and digestion in their symbiotic relationship with the host. Alterations of gut microbiome by alcohol consumption are referred to bacterial overgrowth, release of bacteria-derived products, and/or changed microbiota equilibrium. Alcohol consumption also perturbs the function of gastrointestinal mucosa and elicits a pathophysiological condition. These adverse effects caused by alcohol may ultimately result in a broad change of gastrointestinal luminal metabolites such as bile acids, short chain fatty acids, and branched chain amino acids. Gut microbiota alterations, metabolic changes produced in a dysbiotic intestinal environment, and the host factors are all critical contributors to the development and progression of alcoholic liver disease. This review summarizes recent findings of how alcohol-induced alterations of gut microbiota and metabolome, and discusses the mechanistic link between gastrointestinal dyshomeostasis and alcoholic liver injury.

Keywords: Alcoholic liver disease; Microbiome; Gut metabolome

Core tip: Excessive alcohol consumption causes alcoholic liver disease (ALD) with the mechanisms of pathogenesis largely unknown. Alterations of gut microbiota and metabolites are critical contributors to the development of ALD, which may lead to identification of therapeutic targets for ALD. This review summarizes recent findings of how alcohol-induced alterations of gut microbiota and metabolome, and discusses the mechanistic link between gastrointestinal dyshomeostasis and alcoholic liver injury.