Mei EH, Yao C, Chen YN, Nan SX, Qi SC. Multifunctional role of oral bacteria in the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. World J Hepatol 2024; 16(5): 688-702 [PMID: 38818294 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v16.i5.688]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Sheng-Cai Qi, PhD, Attending Doctor, Department of Prothodontics, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Fudan University, No. 356 East Beijing Road, Shanghai 200000, China. dentistqi@163.com
Research Domain of This Article
Microbiology
Article-Type of This Article
Review
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
En-Hua Mei, Yi-Nan Chen, Shun-Xue Nan, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200000, China
En-Hua Mei, Chao Yao, Sheng-Cai Qi, Department of Prothodontics, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200000, China
En-Hua Mei, Chao Yao, Sheng-Cai Qi, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Craniomaxiofacial Development and Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai 200000, China
Author contributions: Mei EH conceptualized the study, drafted the manuscript, and performed data analysis; Yao C and Chen YN assisted with data collection and interpretation; Nan SH contributed to the methodology design; Qi SC reviewed and edited the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest to disclose.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Sheng-Cai Qi, PhD, Attending Doctor, Department of Prothodontics, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Fudan University, No. 356 East Beijing Road, Shanghai 200000, China. dentistqi@163.com
Received: December 7, 2023 Revised: February 26, 2024 Accepted: April 7, 2024 Published online: May 27, 2024 Processing time: 166 Days and 19.9 Hours
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a spectrum of liver disorders of varying severity, ultimately leading to fibrosis. This spectrum primarily consists of NAFL and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is closely associated with disturbances in the gut microbiota and impairment of the intestinal barrier. Non-gut commensal flora, particularly bacteria, play a pivotal role in the progression of NAFLD. Notably, Porphyromonas gingivalis, a principal bacterium involved in periodontitis, is known to facilitate lipid accumulation, augment immune responses, and induce insulin resistance, thereby exacerbating fibrosis in cases of periodontitis-associated NAFLD. The influence of oral microbiota on NAFLD via the “oral-gut-liver” axis is gaining recognition, offering a novel perspective for NAFLD management through microbial imbalance correction. This review endeavors to encapsulate the intricate roles of oral bacteria in NAFLD and explore underlying mechanisms, emphasizing microbial control strategies as a viable therapeutic avenue for NAFLD.
Core Tip: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a significant concern within the realm of chronic liver diseases, notably affecting economic health. The disruption of intestinal flora balance by oral bacteria accelerates the progression of NAFLD. Moreover, through the inflamed oral mucosa, these bacteria and their virulence factors may enter the bloodstream, leading to systemic inflammation. Therefore, an innovative therapeutic approach for NAFLD involves strategic adjustments to the microbial balance within the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract. This review succinctly delineates the roles and mechanisms of oral bacteria in NAFLD, providing a foundational framework for future therapeutic strategies.
