Gut-liver-brain axis (GLBA)

The gut-liver-brain axis represents a complex, bidirectional communication network that integrates signals from the gastrointestinal tract, the liver, and the central nervous system to maintain metabolic and immunological homeostasis [Frontiers in Nutrition, 2021]. This axis utilizes multiple pathways, including the vagus nerve, neuroendocrine signaling, and the circulation of gut-derived metabolites such as bile acids, short-chain fatty acids, and lipopolysaccharides [Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2021]. It plays a pivotal role in regulating energy balance, glucose metabolism, and the systemic inflammatory response. Dysregulation of this axis is a hallmark of several pathological states, most notably hepatic encephalopathy, where liver failure leads to the accumulation of neurotoxins like ammonia that impair brain function [Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2020]. Therapeutic interventions targeting this axis often focus on modulating the gut microbiota or specific receptors like the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) to mitigate liver damage and its subsequent neurological impact [Hepatology, 2022]. While not a single molecular entity, the axis serves as a critical framework for understanding and treating multi-organ diseases.

Other names

Gut-brain-liver axisMicrobiota-gut-liver-brain axisEntero-hepatic-brain axis

Modulation of the gut-liver-brain axis involves altering gut microbiota composition, reducing systemic ammonia levels, activating bile acid receptors like FXR, and enhancing incretin signaling to improve metabolic and neurological outcomes [Frontiers in Nutrition, 2021; Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2021].