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March 14, 2026BMC Microbiology0 citationsOpen Access

Therapeutic modulation of the gut-liver axis with faecalibacterium prausnitzii in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis

Key Points

The study aims to explore the role of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASLD) and its underlying mechanisms.
Administered a high-fat diet to C57BL/6 J mice for 16 weeks.
Intragastric injection of F. prausnitzii ATCC 27766 strain.
Measured changes in liver metabolic indicators and fecal short-chain fatty acids using GC–MS.
Conducted RNA-sequence analysis to assess gene expression changes after treatment.
F. prausnitzii reduced liver index by 17.5% and serum total cholesterol by 17.6% compared to controls (p < 0.05).
Observed a significant increase in serum IL-10 levels by 20.6% and a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines.
GC-MS analysis revealed a 91.4% increase in total fecal SCFA concentrations.
Significant changes associated with genes involved in lipogenesis and fatty acid oxidation were identified (p < 0.01).

Abstract

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F. prausnitzii) has attracted interest in recent research regarding its possible involvement in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). However, their causal relationship is still unclear. Microbial biomarkers of gut microbiota associated with obesity-related phenotypes were identified from the GMrepo database. Information was retrieved on specific metabolites and host genes related to F. prausnitzii from the GutMGene database. Subsequently, a high-fat diet (HFD) was administered to C57BL/6 J mice for 16 weeks. The intragastric injection of F. prausnitzii ATCC 27766 strain was administered and changes in serum and liver metabolic indicators were then assessed. Fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were measured using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). RNA-sequence (RNA-seq) was performed to identify differentially expressed genes related to F. prausnitzii treatment. In individuals with obesity, MASLD, and Type 2 diabetes, the abundance of F. prausnitzii was significantly reduced by 22.4%, 16.2%, and 34%, respectively, compared to healthy controls (all p-values < 0.05). In comparison to HFD-fed control mice, those administered F. prausnitzii exhibited a substantial reduction in liver index (17.5%, p < 0.05), along with a 17.6% decrease in serum total cholesterol (TC) and a 12.7% decrease in triglycerides (TG) (all p-values < 0.05). Additionally, there was a substantial increase in the serum interleukin-10 (IL-10, 20.6%) levels and reduction in expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1α (21.1%), IL-2 (32.2%), IL-5 (18.4%), and IL-6 (29.6%). GC–MS analysis confirmed a 91.4% increase in total fecal SCFAs concentrations, including acetic (91.9%), propionic (93.8%), and butyric acids (93.0%), with all p-values < 0.01. Both RNA-seq and polymerase chain reaction analyses consistently identified substantial changes in genes associated with de novo lipogenesis (Srebp-1c, Fas, Acc), fatty acid oxidation (PPARα, Acadvl, Acadm and Cpt2), and oxidative phosphorylation (Cox5b, Sdhb), with all p-values < 0.01. This study highlights the promise of F. prausnitzii ATCC 27766 strain, especially regarding its anti-inflammatory and metabolic regulatory functions, as a next-generation probiotic agent in prevention and treatment of MASLD.

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