Gut microbiota changes and chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Tomislav Preveden1, Emidio Scarpellini2, Natasa Milić3

  • 1a Faculty of Medicine, Clinic for Infectious Diseases , University of Novi Sad , Novi Sad , Serbia.

Abstract

Insights

Hepatitis C virus infection alters gut microbiota, increasing intestinal permeability and inflammation, impacting liver disease progression. Understanding the gut-liver axis is key, with probiotics showing potential for managing cirrhosis.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology and Hepatology
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects 150 million globally.
  • The gut-liver axis describes the bidirectional communication between the gut and liver.
  • Altered gut microbiota is increasingly recognized in chronic liver disease pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of intestinal microflora in Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
  • To describe host reactions during chronic Hepatitis C (CHC).
  • To review clinical trials on probiotics for CHC.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of gut microbiota composition in CHC.
  • Analysis of host immune responses in relation to gut dysbiosis.
  • Synthesis of data from clinical trials investigating probiotic interventions.

Main Results:

  • HCV patients exhibit stable gut microbiota composition across disease stages, distinct from other liver conditions.
  • HCV infection increases intestinal permeability, initiating and maintaining gut dysbiosis and inflammation.
  • This dysbiosis contributes to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development.

Conclusions:

  • Gut microbiota unbalance significantly impacts liver disease development in HCV.
  • HCV eradication highlights the crucial role of the gut-liver axis.
  • Probiotics may offer future therapeutic strategies to alter cirrhosis progression in HCV patients.

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