부산대학교 도서관

Alcoholic liver disease is a leading cause of morbidity and liver-related death worldwide. Intestinal bacterial overgrowth and dysbiosis induced by ethanol ingestion play an impor­tant role in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease. After exposure to alcohol in the lumen, enteric bacteria alter their metabolism and thereby disturb intestinal homeostasis. Dis­ruption of the mucosal barrier results in the translocation of microbial products that contribute to liver disease by induc­ing hepatic inflammation. In this review, we will discuss the effects of alcohol on the intestinal microbiome, and in par­ticular, its effects on bacterial metabolism, bacterial translo­cation and ecological balance. A better understanding of the interactions among alcohol, the host and the microbiome will reveal new targets for therapy and lead to new treatments.(Gut Liver 2014;8:237-241)