Cross talk between the liver microbiome and epigenome in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

Background: The pathogenesis of MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease), including its severe clinical forms, involves complex processes at all levels of biological organization. This study examined the potential link between the liver microbiome profile and epigenetic factors.

Methods: Liver microbial DNA composition was analysed using high throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing in 116 individuals, with 55% being female, across the spectrum of liver disease severity. Total activity of histone deacetylases (HDACs) and acetyltransferases (HATs) was assayed in nuclear extracts from fresh liver samples. In addition, we measured the global 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) levels of liver DNA.

Findings: Patients with MASLD showed a 2.07-fold increase (p = 0.013) in liver total HAT activity. Moreover, a correlation was observed between liver total HAT activity and the score for histological steatosis (Spearman's R = 0.60, p = 1.0E-3) and disease severity (R = 0.40, p = 2.0E-2). Liver HAT and HDAC activities also showed associations with the abundance of several liver bacterial DNAs. Additionally, liver global levels of 5-hmC showed negative correlation with the read number of Bacteroidetes (R = -0.62, p = 9.3E-4) and Gammaproteobacteria (R = -0.43, p = 3.2E-2), while it was positively correlated with the abundance of Acidobacteria (R = 0.42, p = 4.1E-2) and Actinobacteria (R = 0.47, p = 1.8E-2).

Interpretation: The host liver epigenome, including the activity of enzymes involved in maintaining the balance between protein acetylation and deacetylation and the global DNA hydroxy-methylation status, may be the target of microbial signals.

Funding: Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica, FonCyT.