Regulation of Obesity and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases by Modulation of the Gut Microbiota Through Inflammasome; its Mechanism and Potential for Clinical Use

ABSTRACT

The revelation that gut microbes are associated with the pathogenesis of human diseases such as obesity, colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and liver-related diseases has resulted in the role of gut microbes becoming a novel research topic in basic and clinical science. Recently, emphasis has been placed on the role of gut microbes in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its progressive form, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Researchers have suggested that inflammasome deficiency-changed dysbiosis is associated with exacerbating NAFLD/NASH progression. This particular study also showed a direct 'gut-liver axis' regulated by modulation of gut microbiota. This paper (Nature 2012;482 179-185) was summarized herein and the potential clinical applications were discussed.