Intestinal Osteopontin Protects From Alcohol-induced Liver Injury by Preserving the Gut Microbiome and the Intestinal Barrier Function.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

The gut-liver axis plays a key role in the pathogenesis of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). We demonstrated that Opn^-/- develop worse ALD than wild-type (WT) mice; however, the role of intestinal osteopontin (OPN) in ALD remains unknown. We hypothesized that overexpression of OPN in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) could ameliorate ALD by preserving the gut microbiome and the intestinal barrier function.

Methods

Opn^{KI IEC}, Opn^ΔIEC, and WT mice were fed control or ethanol Lieber-DeCarli diet for 6 weeks.

Results

Opn^{KI IEC} but not Opn^ΔIEC mice showed improved intestinal barrier function and protection from ALD. There were less pathogenic and more beneficial bacteria in ethanol-fed Opn

SUBMITTER: Das S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9425038 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature