Alcohol's toll on liver linked to gut immune shutdown
Study in mice reveals how alcohol disrupts gut bacteria, triggering liver inflammation and damage.
Why it matters
- New pathway to understand and treat alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), which kills 28K/year in the US.
By the numbers
- mAChR4 receptor activity drops with chronic alcohol use; GAPs formation halts, letting bacteria invade liver.
The big picture
- Gut-immune link pivotal in ALD; targeting gut-liver communication could lead to new therapies.
What they're saying
- Skepticism on applicability to humans; interest in potential treatments for heavy drinkers.
Caveats
- Findings based on mouse models and limited human samples; more research needed.
What’s next
- Human trials and exploration of mAChR4 targeting drugs.