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Updated: Jan 19, 2026

Assessment of Glutamine as a Fuel Source for Alveolar Macrophages Exposed to Chronic Ethanol Using an Extracellular Flux Bioanalyzer
Published on: November 15, 2024
Alcohol or Gut Microbiota: Who Is the Guilty?
Marica Meroni1,2, Miriam Longo3, Paola Dongiovanni4
1Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milano, Italy. maricameroni11@gmail.com.
Excessive alcohol intake causes alcoholic liver disease (ALD), impacting liver health. Modulating gut microbiota shows promise as a new therapeutic strategy for ALD management.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- Microbiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a significant global health issue stemming from excessive alcohol consumption.
- ALD presents a spectrum of liver damage, from steatosis to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
- Individual susceptibility and duration/amount of alcohol abuse influence ALD progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of intestinal microbiota in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) pathophysiology.
- To discuss the potential of gut microbiota modulation as a therapeutic strategy for ALD.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on ethanol's impact on gut microbiota.
- Analysis of mechanisms linking gut dysbiosis to liver injury in ALD.
- Exploration of therapeutic interventions targeting the gut microbiome.
Main Results:
- Ethanol abuse alters intestinal microbiota composition and function.
- Increased intestinal permeability leads to microbial translocation and inflammation.
- Gut dysbiosis exacerbates alcohol-induced liver damage.
Conclusions:
- The gut microbiota plays a critical role in the development and progression of ALD.
- Modulating the gut microbiota represents a promising novel therapeutic avenue for ALD.
- Targeting the gut microbiome could mitigate alcohol-induced liver injury.
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