Affiliation:
1. Department of Pharmacy, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Sehenzhen 518107, China
2. School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
3. Department of Cardiovascular, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
4. Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Active Substance Screening and Translational Research, Shenzhen 518107, China
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a type of metabolic stress liver injury closely related to insulin resistance (IR) and genetic susceptibility without alcohol consumption, which encompasses a spectrum of liver disorders ranging from simple hepatic lipid accumulation, known as steatosis, to the more severe form of steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), posing significant health risks. As a multisystem disease, NAFLD is closely associated with systemic insulin resistance, central obesity, and metabolic disorders, which contribute to its pathogenesis and the development of extrahepatic complications, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and certain extrahepatic cancers. Recent evidence highlights the indispensable roles of intestinal barrier dysfunction and gut microbiota in the onset and progression of NAFLD/NASH. This review provides a comprehensive insight into the role of intestinal barrier dysfunction and gut microbiota in NAFLD, including intestinal barrier function and assessment, inflammatory factors, TLR4 signaling, and the gut–liver axis. Finally, we conclude with a discussion on the potential therapeutic strategies targeting gut permeability and gut microbiota in individuals with NAFLD/NASH, such as interventions with medications/probiotics, fecal transplantation (FMT), and modifications in lifestyle, including exercise and diet.
Funder
Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Active Substance Screening and Translational Research