The gut–liver axis in fatty liver disease: From immune mechanisms to precision therapeutics

Fatty liver disease has emerged as one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease worldwide, with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affecting nearly one-third of the global adult population and alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) remaining a major contributor to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and liver-related mortality. Increasing evidence indicates that the gut–liver axis is a dynamic immunological interface, extending beyond conventional concepts of gut dysbiosis and intestinal permeability to encompass host–microbe immune crosstalk and inter-organ immune signaling.This Research Topic aims to highlight emerging discoveries on the immune mechanisms underlying gut–liver interactions in fatty liver disease. We welcome submissions investigating immune-mediated gut vascular barrier dysfunction, immune crosstalk along the gut–liver–brain, gut–liver–adipose, gut–liver–muscle, and gut–liver–pancreas axes, microbial extracellular vesicles and their effects on host immune signaling, the gut virome and mycobiome as modulators of hepatic immunity, microbiota-driven epigenetic regulation of immune cells, and the role of immunogenic and inflammatory cell death pathways—including pyroptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, and immunogenic apoptosis—in disease initiation and progression. We also encourage studies applying immunometabolic and multi-omics approaches to characterize host–microbiome immune networks and identify novel immune biomarkers for disease diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic response.In addition, this Research Topic seeks research on precision immune-modulatory strategies targeting the gut–liver axis—including live biotherapeutic products and engineered probiotics designed to modulate host immunity—and nutritional interventions centered on polyphenols and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Particular emphasis is placed on understanding how dietary polyphenols and microbiota-derived SCFAs modulate intestinal barrier integrity, mucosal and hepatic immune cell function, and inflammatory signaling to prevent or attenuate fatty liver disease.By bringing together basic, translational, and clinical investigations, this Research Topic aims to advance understanding of the immunological dimensions of the gut–liver axis and accelerate the translation of mechanistic immune discoveries into precision medicine for fatty liver disease. We welcome original research articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and perspective articles that contribute to this rapidly evolving field.Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:o Immune Dysregulation at the Gut Vascular Barrier in Fatty Liver Diseaseo Immune Mediators of Inter-Organ Communication in Fatty Liver Diseaseo Microbial Extracellular Vesicles as Immunomodulatory Signals in Liver Diseaseo Precision Immunology Approaches to Microbiome-Targeted Therapy in Fatty Liver Diseaseo Gut Virome and Mycobiome as Drivers of Hepatic Immune Responseso Microbiota–Mitochondria Crosstalk in Hepatic Immune Cell Functiono Epigenetic Reprogramming of Immune Cells by the Gut Microbiomeo Immune Cell Death Pathways Along the Gut–Liver Axiso Host–Microbiome Metabolic Networks Shaping Hepatic Immunityo Immunomodulatory Effects of Polyphenols and Short-Chain Fatty Acids on the Gut–Liver Axis: Mechanisms and Therapeutic PotentialTopic Editor VRJ is one of the co-founders of Artus Therapeutics. The rest of the editorial team have no conflicts of interest to declare. Topic editors: PALASH MANDAL, Venkatakrishna Rao Jala, Senthil Kumar Venugopal Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85643/the-gut-liver-axis-in-fatty-liver-disease-from-immune-mechanisms-to-precision-therapeutics