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Gut microbiota and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD): emerging pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic implications
Abdelhameed, Farah Mustafa, Attia Lagojda, Lukasz Than, Nwe Ni Kassi, Eva Kyrou, Ioannis Randeva, Harpal S.
Abdelhameed, Farah
Mustafa, Attia
Lagojda, Lukasz
Than, Nwe Ni
Kassi, Eva
Kyrou, Ioannis
Randeva, Harpal S.
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2025-03-04
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Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), recently redefined as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Characterized by excessive hepatic fat accumulation, this disease encompasses a spectrum from simple steatosis to more severe forms, including steatohepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Emerging evidence highlights the pivotal role of gut dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of MASLD. Dysbiosis disrupts the gut–liver axis, an intricate communication network that regulates metabolic, immune, and barrier functions. Alterations in gut microbiota composition, increased gut permeability, and translocation of pro-inflammatory metabolites/factors have been shown to trigger liver inflammatory and fibrotic cascades, exacerbating hepatic inflammation and injury. Recent studies have identified microbiome signatures associated with MASLD, offering promise as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers and paving the way for new potential therapeutic strategies targeting gut dysbiosis. This review explores the crucial role of the gut microbiota in MASLD pathogenesis and highlights the need for further targeted research in this field to validate microbial biomarkers and optimize therapeutic strategies. Comprehensive understanding of the gut–liver axis may enable innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, transforming the clinical management of MASLD.
Citation
Abdelhameed F, Mustafa A, Kite C, Lagojda L, Dallaway A, Than NN, Kassi E, Kyrou I, Randeva HS. Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD): Emerging Pathogenic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications. Livers. 2025; 5(1):11. https://doi.org/10.3390/livers5010011
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Journal article
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en
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© 2025 The Authors. Published by MDPI. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link: https://doi.org/10.3390/livers5010011
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2673-4389
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2673-4389