Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Liver cirrhosis development is often accompanied by dysbiosis of the intestinal flora. As an important component of the human intestinal microflora, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii plays an important role in maintaining the intestinal ecological balance. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of F. prausnitzii on carbon tetrachloride-induced cirrhosis in rats and its effect on intestinal homeostasis. METHODS: A rat model of liver cirrhosis was generated via treatment with CCL4 and gavage with F. prausnitzii live bacterial solution. Samples of blood, liver, colon and feces were collected from the rats. Liver function, serum cytokine levels, liver and intestinal pathology, the fecal flora structure and liver transcriptomics were assessed in the rats. RESULTS: F. prausnitzii administration attenuates pathological damage to the liver in cirrhotic rats; reduces the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TB), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and direct bilirubin (DB) (p < 0.05, p < 0.01); increases the albumin (ALB) level (p < 0.05); downregulates the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, IL-1β (p < 0.05, p < 0.01) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) (p < 0.05); reduces damage to the intestinal mucosal structure in cirrhotic rats; and maintains the barrier function of the intestine. In cirrhotic rats, certain organisms exhibited a decrease in abundance, while others showed an increase. CONCLUSION: F. prausnitzii administration had a protective effect on cirrhotic rats by effectively regulating the intestinal flora, enhancing the barrier function of the intestinal tract, inhibiting the inflammatory response of the liver, and delaying liver fibrosis. This study provides a theoretical basis for the clinical application of F. prausnitzii.