Avenues within the gut-liver-brain axis linking chronic liver disease and symptoms

Henry H Nguyen; Mark G Swain

doi:10.3389/fnins.2023.1171253

Avenues within the gut-liver-brain axis linking chronic liver disease and symptoms

Front Neurosci. 2023 Jul 13:17:1171253. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1171253. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Henry H Nguyen¹, Mark G Swain²

Affiliations

¹ University of Calgary Liver Unit, Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
² University of Calgary Liver Unit, Department of Medicine, Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.

Abstract

Symptoms of fatigue, social withdrawal and mood disturbances are commonly encountered in patients with chronic liver disease and have a detrimental effect on patient quality of life. Treatment options for these symptoms are limited and a current area of unmet medical need. In this review, we will evaluate the potential mechanistic avenues within the gut-liver-brain axis that may be altered in the setting of chronic liver disease that drive the development of these symptoms. Both clinical and pre-clinical studies will be highlighted as we discuss how perturbations in host immune response, microbiome, neural responses, and metabolites composition can affect the central nervous system.

Keywords: depression; fatigue; host immune system; metabolites; microbiome; neural pathways; sickness behavior; social withdrawal.

Publication types

Review