Gut Barrier, Microbial Metabolites, and Immune Homeostasis in Autoimmune Hepatitis: From Molecular Mechanisms to Strategies
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory liver disease characterized by recurring immune-triggered hepatic injury. While scientists have yet to fully elucidate the precise triggers of AIH, contemporary research indicates that both gut microbiota and their metabolic produc...
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IMR Press
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark |
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| Online Access: | https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/30/5/10.31083/FBL27747 |
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| author | Xintong Zhang Linyan Wan Yujiao Zheng Yaowei Ai |
| author_facet | Xintong Zhang Linyan Wan Yujiao Zheng Yaowei Ai |
| author_sort | Xintong Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory liver disease characterized by recurring immune-triggered hepatic injury. While scientists have yet to fully elucidate the precise triggers of AIH, contemporary research indicates that both gut microbiota and their metabolic products significantly influence AIH progression. These factors contribute to multiple mechanisms, including compromised intestinal barrier function, altered microbial and metabolite trafficking, and disrupted immune balance, leading to inflammatory responses. This review begins by exploring the intestinal microbial populations and their byproducts linked to AIH. It highlights how disrupted gut flora compromises intestinal immune defenses, enables bacterial migration from the gut to hepatic tissue, and induces liver inflammatory responses. Research validates that metabolic products from microbes, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acids (BAs), and specific amino acids (glutamine, cysteine, tryptophan, and branched-chain variants, among others), interact with immune cell populations. These interactions, coupled with immune cell modifications, contribute to AIH progression. Our review identifies promising treatment strategies, including the use of probiotic supplementation, engineered prebiotic compounds, microbiota transfer procedures, and specific medications targeting gut microorganisms and their byproducts. These approaches could potentially reduce immune-triggered hepatic damage, offering potential new avenues for AIH management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b32d42382c534312b2de08d3f7a13cb9 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2768-6701 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | IMR Press |
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| series | Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark |
| spelling | doaj-art-b32d42382c534312b2de08d3f7a13cb92025-08-20T02:03:00ZengIMR PressFrontiers in Bioscience-Landmark2768-67012025-04-013052774710.31083/FBL27747S2768-6701(25)01635-1Gut Barrier, Microbial Metabolites, and Immune Homeostasis in Autoimmune Hepatitis: From Molecular Mechanisms to StrategiesXintong Zhang0Linyan Wan1Yujiao Zheng2Yaowei Ai3Department of Gastroenterology, Yichang Central People’s Hospital, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, 443002 Yichang, Hubei, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Yichang Central People’s Hospital, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, 443002 Yichang, Hubei, ChinaCollege of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 230012 Hefei, Anhui, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Yichang Central People’s Hospital, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, 443002 Yichang, Hubei, ChinaAutoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory liver disease characterized by recurring immune-triggered hepatic injury. While scientists have yet to fully elucidate the precise triggers of AIH, contemporary research indicates that both gut microbiota and their metabolic products significantly influence AIH progression. These factors contribute to multiple mechanisms, including compromised intestinal barrier function, altered microbial and metabolite trafficking, and disrupted immune balance, leading to inflammatory responses. This review begins by exploring the intestinal microbial populations and their byproducts linked to AIH. It highlights how disrupted gut flora compromises intestinal immune defenses, enables bacterial migration from the gut to hepatic tissue, and induces liver inflammatory responses. Research validates that metabolic products from microbes, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acids (BAs), and specific amino acids (glutamine, cysteine, tryptophan, and branched-chain variants, among others), interact with immune cell populations. These interactions, coupled with immune cell modifications, contribute to AIH progression. Our review identifies promising treatment strategies, including the use of probiotic supplementation, engineered prebiotic compounds, microbiota transfer procedures, and specific medications targeting gut microorganisms and their byproducts. These approaches could potentially reduce immune-triggered hepatic damage, offering potential new avenues for AIH management.https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/30/5/10.31083/FBL27747autoimmune hepatitisgut microbiomemicrobial metabolites transportgut-liver axisintestinal immune barrierimmune-mediated liver injury |
| spellingShingle | Xintong Zhang Linyan Wan Yujiao Zheng Yaowei Ai Gut Barrier, Microbial Metabolites, and Immune Homeostasis in Autoimmune Hepatitis: From Molecular Mechanisms to Strategies Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark autoimmune hepatitis gut microbiome microbial metabolites transport gut-liver axis intestinal immune barrier immune-mediated liver injury |
| title | Gut Barrier, Microbial Metabolites, and Immune Homeostasis in Autoimmune Hepatitis: From Molecular Mechanisms to Strategies |
| title_full | Gut Barrier, Microbial Metabolites, and Immune Homeostasis in Autoimmune Hepatitis: From Molecular Mechanisms to Strategies |
| title_fullStr | Gut Barrier, Microbial Metabolites, and Immune Homeostasis in Autoimmune Hepatitis: From Molecular Mechanisms to Strategies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gut Barrier, Microbial Metabolites, and Immune Homeostasis in Autoimmune Hepatitis: From Molecular Mechanisms to Strategies |
| title_short | Gut Barrier, Microbial Metabolites, and Immune Homeostasis in Autoimmune Hepatitis: From Molecular Mechanisms to Strategies |
| title_sort | gut barrier microbial metabolites and immune homeostasis in autoimmune hepatitis from molecular mechanisms to strategies |
| topic | autoimmune hepatitis gut microbiome microbial metabolites transport gut-liver axis intestinal immune barrier immune-mediated liver injury |
| url | https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/30/5/10.31083/FBL27747 |
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