We all know that too much alcohol is not exactly good for us, and excessive consumption can lead to a nasty bout of liver cirrhosis. A study published this week by Wang et al in Cell Host & Microbe provides more information on the effects of alcohol on the gut microbiota. Previous work has shown that chronic alcohol consumption is associated with reduced levels of antimicrobial-regenerating (REG)-3 lectins. Now, Wang and colleagues have linked this with an increase in mucosa-associated bacteria and bacterial translocation to the lymph nodes and liver of mice, “promoting the progression of ethanol-induced fatty liver disease toward steatohepatitis”. Yikes.
Something to discuss over Friday night drinks, perhaps?!
Please sign in or register for FREE
If you are a registered user on Research Communities by Springer Nature, please sign in