Grant awarded to study gut-liver communication

The project will explore how the gut microbiome, the bacteria and other microorganisms living in the digestive tract, sends signals to specialised areas of the liver known as portal tracts. These areas surround the large blood vessels of the liver and are rich in immune cells. As substances from the gut enter the liver through these portal tracts, the resident immune cells are among the first to be exposed to gut-derived microbial signals.

By uncovering how these gut signals influence liver immune responses, the research could lead to new ways to prevent or treat liver diseases such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a severe form of fatty liver disease.

“Studies have shown that the gut microbiome influences liver disease outcomes, but the nature and mechanisms behind this communication remains a mystery,” said Associate Professor Bertolino.

“This grant will help us understand how immune cells in the liver respond to microbial signals. The knowledge we gain could open the door to new strategies for managing liver inflammation and disease.”

Associate Professor Bertolino says the study will use advanced imaging and molecular techniques, with the findings laying the groundwork for future research into gut and liver interactions and their impact on health more broadly.