박영재 (서울대학교 식품대사체 연구실)

석기태 (한림대학교 소화기연구소)

이도엽 (서울대학교 식품대사체 연구실)

박영재 (서울대학교 식품대사체 연구실)

이지민 (서울대학교 식품대사체 연구실)

박현준 (한림대학교 소화기연구소)

석기태 (한림대학교 소화기연구소)

이도엽 (서울대학교 식품대사체 연구실)

Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) is a severe form of liver injury caused by chronic alcohol abuse. This condition ultimately progresses to liver cirrhosis, which can advance to decompensated cirrhosis, leading to complications like ascites and hemorrhage that critically impact patient survival. The gut-liver axis is a key concept illustrating the intricate interplay between gut microbiota and the liver, central to understanding ALD pathogenesis. Notably, stool samples serve as a valuable non-invasive tool for exploring dysfunctions within the gut-liver axis, as they reflect changes in gut microbiome and subsequent metabolic profiles.

In this study, we aimed to elucidate metabolic alterations during the progression of alcoholic liver cirrhosis. We performed metabolomics analysis on stool samples collected from healthy individuals, patients with compensated cirrhosis, and those with decompensated cirrhosis. Our analysis successfully identified approximately 300 different metabolites. By comparing these metabolites, we were able to pinpoint specific metabolic substances that either increased or decreased with the severity of liver cirrhosis. We also identified metabolites uniquely present in either compensated or decompensated cirrhosis.

The findings of this research offer crucial fundamental knowledge and insights into the metabolic alterations associated with the progression of alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Furthermore, the specific metabolites identified in this study suggest their potential as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of alcoholic liver cirrhosis, paving the way for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.