Multifunctional role of oral bacteria in the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Figure 1 Disruption of intestinal mucosal barriers by pathogenic microorganisms. Pathogenic microorganisms elevate levels of pathogen-associated molecular patterns, lipopolysaccharide, ethanol, and secondary bile acids in the intestinal mucosa, leading to a decrease in protective intestinal mucus and short-chain fatty acids. This exacerbates local inflammation and enhances intestinal permeability. As a result, pathogenic microorganisms and their virulence factors are transported to the liver via the portal venous system, facilitating the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. PAMP: Pathogen-associated molecular; LPS: Lipopolysaccharide; NASH: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; TNF-α: Tumour necrosis factor alpha; INF: Interferon; SCFAs: Short-chain fatty acids.