Scientists have now discovered how alcohol can switch off an immune "alarm system" in the gut, allowing bad bacteria to escape their natural habitat to flood into the liver, rapidly causing inflammation to the organ, in a study in mice, as seen in alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). | AI News Digest
A new study from UC San Diego reveals how alcohol disrupts an immune 'alarm system' in the gut, allowing harmful bacteria to invade the liver and cause inflammation, a key factor in alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). The research identifies the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M4 (mAChR4) as crucial for maintaining gut barrier integrity. When alcohol suppresses mAChR4, bacteria can escape, leading to liver damage. Importantly, the study shows that this process can be reversed, offering potential new treatments for ALD, which currently has no effective therapies. The findings highlight the interconnectedness of the gut and liver, suggesting that targeting gut immunity could be a novel approach to treating alcohol-related liver issues.
