The gut bacteria travels to liver with the help of alcohol, causing liver disease that has been instigated by alcohol, says a new study. This deduction has been based on research study conducted on laboratory samples and mice by Researchers from University of California (UC), San Diego in US.
Earlier the researchers had found out that consuming alcohol on a regular basis had a connection with naturally occurring antimicrobials in the intestine. They discovered that lower levels of REG3 lectins were found in the intestines with chronic alcohol use.
In the present research study the researchers have found out that the deficiency of REG3 G encourages the development of liver disease that is induced by alcohol. Engineered mice that lacked REG3G with nearly 8 weeks of alcohol showed that they “were more susceptible to bacterial migration from the gut to the liver than normal mice who received the same amount of alcohol.” As compared to normal mice the mice deficient in REG3G suffered from more severe liver disease caused by alcohol.
The researchers carried on their work of trying to halt the rampage of the liver-damaging microbes by experimenting with the cells grown in the lab. They engineered copies of the REG3G gene into the cells lining the intestinal walls. Bacterial growth was reduced by increased quantities of REG3G and thus restoring the REG3G in the intestines of the mice provided them protection from fatty liver diseases induced by alcohol. This stage of the liver is concerning as it precedes the end stage caused by cirrhosis. Half of the reported fatty liver disease “cirrhosis” deaths are because of consumption of alcohol.
According to research study, patients dependent on alcohol have lower REG3G levels than people who are healthy and they also show more “bacteria growing there.” Bernd Schnabl from UC has stated “Alcohol appears to impair the body’s ability to keep microbes in check. When those barriers breakdown, bacteria that does not normally colonize the liver end up there, and now we have found that this bacterial migration promotes alcohol liver disease.” The best way to treat the disease is to restore body’s defenses says Schnabl.
