HIGH SUCROSE MEDIATED ALTERATIONS IN GUT MICROBIOTA DISSOCIATE HEPATIC STEATOSIS FROM LIVER INFLAMMATION IN NAFL

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) is the most common liver disease in affluent societies. Western-type diets and changes in gut microbiota have been link to obesity, the major risk factor for NAFL. Therefore, we examined the effects of a sugar-rich diet (HS) on gut microbiota in mice. Methods: Adult C57BL6 mice were fed a normal chow (NC) or a HS diet for 16 weeks. Gut microbiota were analysed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing of DNA extracted from cecal contents.   Results: Hepatic steatosis was detected in HS diet group by Hu0026E staining. However, analysis of mRNA expression of IFN-γ, Trail and IL-10 indicated an anti-inflammatory response within the liver. NC and HS diet fed mice showed clear differences in microbiota composition (pu003c0.001, F=21.2, one-way PERMANOVA). A reduction in mean abundance of bacteria belonging to the family S24-7 (20.7%), and an increase in mean abundance of Lachnospiraceae (10.9%), and Allobaculum (7.7%) contributed to the majority of dissimilarity between diet groups. Conclusion: A HS diet induces hepatic steatosis without inducing inflammation. We detected alterations in gut microbiota in mice fed the HS diet. Higher rates of short chain fatty acids production by Firmicutes could be the possible mechanism for our findings.