Fucoidan ameliorates alcohol-induced liver injury in mice through Parabacteroides distasonis-mediated regulation of the gut-liver axis

Abstract

Polysaccharides can benefit the liver via modulation of the gut microbiota, but the exact mechanism is still unclear. This study demonstrated that the effect of Scytosiphon lomentaria fucoidan (SLF) on alcohol-induced liver injury can be closely related to the level of Parabacteroides distasonis (Pd) via in vivo and in vitro models. Further mice experiment showed that Pd alleviated liver injury and inflammation by suppressing the NF-κB/MAPK pathways and activating Nrf2 pathway. The underlying mechanism can be closely associated with modulation of the gut microbiota, particularly an increase in microbiota diversity and beneficial bacteria and a reduction in Proteobacteria. Targeted metabolomics indicated that Pd ameliorated alcohol-induced dysbiosis of microbiota metabolites profile, primarily affecting amino acid metabolism. Moreover, Pd reduced the level of total bile acids (BAs) and improved BAs profile, affecting the expression levels of BA-associated genes in the liver and ileum involved in BA synthesis, transport, and reabsorption. This study suggests that SLF can benefit alcohol-induced liver injury via P. distasonis-mediated regulation of the gut-liver axis.

Keywords: Alcoholic liver diseases; Bile acid; Gut microbiota and metabolites; Polysaccharides.