Characteristics of gut microbiota in patients with metabolic associated fatty liver disease

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Hepatology
• Microbiome Research
• Metabolic Diseases

Background:

• Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) incidence is increasing, leading to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
• Gut microbiota dysbiosis is implicated in MAFLD development and progression.
• Limited data exists on gut microbiome differences in Chinese MAFLD patients, especially concerning hepatic enzyme activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate gut microbiome composition differences between MAFLD patients and healthy controls in China.
• To identify specific bacterial taxa associated with MAFLD and abnormal liver enzyme levels.
• To explore potential microbial biomarkers for MAFLD diagnosis and pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

• Fecal samples from 81 MAFLD patients and 25 healthy volunteers were analyzed.
• 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metagenomic sequencing were employed for microbiota assessment.
• Microbe-set Enrichment Analysis (MSEA) was used to identify enriched microbial communities.

Main Results:

• Ruminococcus obeum and Alistipes were enriched in healthy individuals compared to MAFLD patients.
• Dorea, Lactobacillus, and Megasphaera were enriched in the MAFLD group.
• Alistipes abundance negatively correlated with serum glucose (GLU), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT).
• Dorea abundance increased with elevated liver enzymes, suggesting a link to MAFLD severity.

Conclusions:

• Gut microbiome profiles differ significantly between MAFLD patients and healthy individuals in China.
• Increased Dorea and decreased Alistipes may serve as characteristic microbial signatures for MAFLD.
• Further research into these microbial alterations could reveal novel insights into MAFLD pathogenesis and treatment strategies.