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Related Experiment Video

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A Gut-on-a-Chip Model to Study the Gut Microbiome-Nervous System Axis

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The gut-liver axis.

Ruben G J Visschers¹, Misha D Luyer, Frank G Schaap

¹Department of Surgery, Orbis Medical Centre, Sittard, UK.

Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care

|July 23, 2013

Summary

Enteral lipids reduce inflammation and liver damage, while parenteral lipids can cause harm. Maintaining bile salt circulation and a healthy gut microbiota is crucial for liver health.

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An Intestine/Liver Microphysiological System for Drug Pharmacokinetic and Toxicological Assessment

An Intestine/Liver Microphysiological System for Drug Pharmacokinetic and Toxicological Assessment

Published on: December 3, 2020

Area of Science:

Hepatology
Gastroenterology
Autonomic Nervous System

Background:

The liver responds to inflammation originating inside and outside the intestines.
The autonomic nervous system, gut microbiota, and intestinal failure are implicated in liver and intestinal diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the role of the autonomic nervous system, intestinal failure, and gut microbiota in liver disease development.
To explore the impact of enteral and parenteral lipids on liver health.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on the autonomic nervous system, gut microbiota, and liver disease.
Analysis of the effects of enteral and parenteral lipid administration.
Examination of bile salt metabolism and its impact on liver function.

Main Results:

Enteral fat stimulates the autonomic nervous system, promoting bowel integrity and reducing inflammation.
Parenteral long-chain fatty acids may cause liver damage; evidence suggests disruption of bile salt circulation leads to cholestasis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Gut microbiota alterations are associated with liver abnormalities.

Conclusions:

Enteral lipids mitigate inflammation and liver damage, whereas parenteral lipids are hepatotoxic.
Preserving enterohepatic circulation of bile salts prevents cholestasis via the farnesoid X receptor pathway.
Gut microbiota dysbiosis can precipitate liver disease.