The Microbiome and Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

The human microbiome is a vast and complex system encompassing all of the microbes and their genes that occupy the environmentally exposed surfaces of the human body. The gut microbiota and its associated microbiome play an integral role in mammalian metabolism and immune tolerance as well as in immunocompetence. Disruptions in the human gut microbiome are associated with a cycle of hepatocyte injury and regeneration characteristic of chronic liver disease. The persistence of this inflammation has been shown to induce the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic changes leading to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, the importance and prognostic influence of the gut microbiome on hepatocarcinogenesis has been increasingly studied in recent years. This review discusses the mechanisms by which imbalances in the gut microbiome disturb the gut‐liver axis to impact hepatocarcinogenesis, including disruption of the intestinal barrier, changes in bile acid metabolism, and reduction in tumor‐suppressing microRNA. Furthermore, this review summarizes recent advances in potential microbiome‐based therapeutic opportunities in HCC.

Scutellarin Ameliorated Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Chronic Liver Injury in Mice

“…Compelling evidence supports that gut microbiota is related to various liver diseases, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [2,30,31]. In this study, the results of the 16S rRNA sequencing demonstrated that parenterally administered (intraperitoneal injection) CCl 4 signi cantly modulated the composition of gut ora, as shown by the result of α-, β-diversity indices.…”

“…Chronic liver injury is de ned by the chronic in ammatory insult to the hepatic parenchyma which results in aggravating brosis with ultimate progression to end-stage liver disease over time. The cycle of hepatocyte damage and regeneration not only leads to persistent in ammation but also disrupts the regulation of an intricately balanced relationship between the gut and the liver [2]. The commensal bacteria such as Lactobacillus [3], Bi dobacterium [4] that have been widely reported to have antiin ammatory properties and produce bene cial metabolites (such as indoles, propionic acid and secondary bile acid), and play a vital role in hepatic disease and in preserving the balance of the gut-liver axis [5,6].…”

Profibrotic Signaling and HCC Risk during Chronic Viral Hepatitis: Biomarker Development

“…In both cases, patients remain at considerable risk to develop HCC over the years, which highlights the importance of reliable and minimally invasive biomarkers to stratify these risk patients for tighter HCC screening. A combination of circulating signaling components, secondary markers (e.g., gut microbiome [ 148 , 149 ]), with noninvasive imaging biomarkers will hold the biggest potential. However, it is important to remark that although some of these signaling-linked candidate biomarkers show promising results, almost all of them are still in development, and only AFP has reached phase V ( Table 1 ).…”

Biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma based on body fluids and feces

“…Thus, modulation of gut microbiota using antibiotics is a promising strategy to intervene development or progression of HCC. In addition, use of probiotics in murine HCC models inhibited HCC development, suggesting this strategy might have a potential to be used as a therapeutic option for HCC patients in the future, provided that alterations of gut microbiota by certain probiotics could also be observed in human[ 94 ]. Another viable way to regulate human gut microbiome is through fecal microbiota transplantation, but such studies remain under-investigated.…”