The gut‑liver axis connects the liver with the intestine via
bile acid metabolism.
Bile acid dysregulation leads to intestinal
dysbiosis, that allows enterogenous pathogenic bacteria, including Gram‑negative bacteria and their products
lipopolysaccharide (LPS), into the liver via the portal vein, triggering
inflammation in the liver. The
inflammasome serves as an intracellular
pattern recognition receptor that detects pathogens or danger signals and mediates innate immunity in the liver or gut. Specifically, the NACHT, LRR and PYD domains‑containing
protein (NLRP)6
inflammasome maintains intestinal microbial balance, by promoting
interleukin (IL)‑18‑dependent
antimicrobial peptide synthesis and mucus secretion from goblet cells. The NLRP3
inflammasome, in contrast, primarily induces IL‑1β and aggravates inflammatory liver injury. Furthermore, the NLRP3
inflammasome affects the epithelial integrity of cholangiocytes by inducing the production of pro‑inflammatory
cytokines. In addition,
bile acids, including
deoxycholic acid and
chenodeoxycholic acid, are able to activate the NLRP3
inflammasome in macrophages; however,
bile acids have the potential to exert the opposite role by interacting with the membrane‑bound Takeda G‑protein receptor 5 or by activating nuclear farnesoid‑X receptor. Therefore, further investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the
inflammasome, involved in the gut‑liver axis, may provide important insights into the identification of a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of liver and gut diseases. The present review discusses the roles of the
inflammasome in the gut‑liver axis, and the emerging associations between the
inflammasome and the intestinal microbiota or the
bile acids in the gut‑liver axis.