Probiotics in Gut–Liver Axis: Mechanisms, Therapeutic Potential, and Translational Perspectives

The gut and liver are anatomically and functionally interconnected through the portal circulation, bile secretion, and shared exposure to microbial metabolites — a relationship widely known as the gut–liver axis. Disruption of intestinal microbial homeostasis, increased gut permeability, and translocation of bacterial products such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are now recognized as key contributors to the onset and progression of liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease, liver fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.Probiotics — live microorganisms that confer health benefits when administered in adequate amounts — have emerged as a promising, low-risk therapeutic and preventive strategy for restoring gut microbial balance, strengthening intestinal barrier integrity, and modulating hepatic inflammation and metabolism. A growing body of preclinical and clinical evidence supports their use in gut-liver disorders, yet the underlying mechanisms, optimal strains, dosing regimens, and translational potential remain incompletely understood and inconsistently reported across the literature.This Research Topic aims to consolidate current knowledge on how probiotics influence gut–liver crosstalk in both health and disease, providing a timely and integrative resource for pharmacologists, hepatologists, microbiologists, and nutrition scientists working at the interface of the gut microbiome and liver pathophysiology.We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Systematic Review, and Clinical Trial articles addressing (but not limited to) the following themes:Mechanisms by which probiotics modulate gut microbiota composition and intestinal barrier function in the context of liver diseaseProbiotic-mediated regulation of the gut–liver axis in NAFLD/NASH, alcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinomaEffects of specific probiotic strains (e.g., Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Akkermansia muciniphila) on hepatic inflammation, lipid metabolism, and fibrosisProbiotic modulation of bacterial translocation, endotoxemia, and bile acid metabolismSynbiotics, postbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation as complementary or comparative approachesClinical trials evaluating probiotic supplementation for liver disease prevention or managementSafety, strain-specificity, and translational challenges in moving probiotic research from bench to bedsideNovel methodologies (multi-omics, gut-on-a-chip, gnotobiotic models) for studying gut–liver interactionsBy bringing together mechanistic, preclinical, and clinical perspectives, this Research Topic seeks to advance our understanding of probiotics as a modulator of gut–liver health and to identify actionable directions for future therapeutic development. We invite researchers across disciplines to contribute original findings, critical reviews, and emerging perspectives that push this rapidly evolving field forward. Topic editors: Fei Wang, Luis Barbisan Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84168/probiotics-in-gut-liver-axis-mechanisms-therapeutic-potential-and-translational-perspectives