Interleukin-18 binding protein deficiency results in gut microbiota dysbiosis and aggravated diet-induced MASH in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)/metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) are now the most prevalent hepatic disorders worldwide. Growing evidence implicates physiological alterations in the gut-liver axis and gut microbiota dysbiosis in this process. IL-18-binding protein (IL-18BP) forms high affinity complexes with IL-18, thus blocking its interaction with IL-18 receptors.

Methods

We used high-fat diet (HFD) and methionine choline deficient (MCD) diet to model MASLD/MASH in wild-type (WT) male mice (n = 6-8 mice per group). We also studied antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) production, gut microbiota composition, and liver phenotype in Il18bp ^-/- male mice on both HFD and MCD diets (n = 5-

SUBMITTER: Somm E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12753522 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature