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Publications

Journal Article Journal Article Epublish 1 citation

PubMed: 39810228 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-024-02004-7

Characterization of liver, adipose, and fecal microbiome in obese patients with MASLD: links with disease severity and metabolic dysfunction parameters.

Microbiome 13(1):9

Authors: Katherine J P Schwenger, Julia K Copeland, Yasaman Ghorbani, Lina Chen, Elena M Comelli, David S Guttman, Sandra E Fischer, Timothy D Jackson, Allan Okrainec, Johane P Allard

Affiliations

  • Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.
  • Centre for the Analysis of Genome Evolution & Function, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
  • Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
  • Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
  • Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
  • Division of General Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
  • Division of General Surgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.
  • Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.
  • Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
  • Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Toronto General Hospital, 585 University Avenue, 9N-973, Toronto, ON, M5G 2N2, Canada.

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) encompasses a range of histological findings from the generally benign simple steatosis to steatohepatitis (MASH) which can progress to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Several factors, including the microbiome, may contribute to disease progression.

RESULTS

Here, we demonstrate links between the presence and abundance of specific bacteria in the adipose and liver tissues, inflammatory genes, immune cell responses, and disease severity. Overall, in MASLD patients, we observed a generalized obesity-induced translocation of gut bacteria to hepatic and adipose tissues. We identified microbial patterns unique to more severely diseased tissues. Specifically, Enterococcus, Granulicatella, and Morganellaceae abundance is positively correlated with immune cell counts and inflammatory gene expression levels, and both genera are significantly enriched in MASH patients. Brevibacterium is enriched in adipose tissues of patients with liver fibrosis.

CONCLUSION

Together, these results provide further insight into the microbial factors that may be driving disease severity. Video Abstract.

MeSH

Cells, Genes, Environmental Microbiology, Fibrosis, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Liver, Tissues, Bacteria

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