Gut microbiota-liver-adipose axis

The gut microbiota and gut-liver/adipose metabolic pathways constitute a complex physiological network, often referred to as the gut-liver-adipose axis, which plays a critical role in maintaining systemic metabolic homeostasis. This axis facilitates bidirectional communication via microbial metabolites, including bile acids, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and lipopolysaccharides (LPS), which act as signaling molecules for host receptors in the liver and adipose tissue (Albillos et al., 2020, Journal of Hepatology). Dysregulation of these pathways is strongly linked to the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), obesity, and type 2 diabetes, often characterized by intestinal dysbiosis and impaired gut barrier function (Fan and Pedersen, 2021, Nature Reviews Microbiology). While the axis itself is a multi-organ system rather than a single protein target, specific components within it, such as the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and TGR5, serve as primary therapeutic targets for drugs like obeticholic acid (Tilg et al., 2022, Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology). Therapeutic interventions aim to restore microbial balance or modulate downstream metabolic signaling to alleviate chronic inflammation and improve insulin sensitivity across the involved tissues.

Other names

Gut-liver axisGut-adipose axisGut-microbiota-metabolic pathwaysEnterohepatic-adipose signalingMicrobiome-metabolic axis

Modulation of the gut-liver-adipose axis occurs through the activation of nuclear receptors like the farnesoid X receptor (FXR), regulation of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, and reduction of systemic endotoxemia by improving gut barrier integrity and reducing bacterial translocation.