Researchers here describe a metabolite produced by gut microbes, 10-HSA, that encourages repair of tissue in the intestines and liver. As researchers dig more deeply into the mechanisms by which some configurations of the gut microbiome are more favorable to health than others, one should expect more discoveries of this nature. The research here involves treatment of chemical injury to the intestines and liver of mice, so it would be interesting to see an analogous study carried out in aged mice, to see if the same mechanisms promote a greater function and resilience in age-damaged rather than chemically damaged tissues.
A new study revealed that 10-hydroxy-cis-12-octadecenoic acid (10-HSA), a compound produced by Lactobacillus bacteria, successfully restored gut-liver health in mice exposed to aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is a toxic substance made of mold commonly found in peanuts, corn and other crops. It is known to cause liver injury. The gut and the liver are intricately linked. They communicate through bile acids, immunity responses, and lipid metabolism – a relationship known as the gut-liver axis. When one organ is damaged, the other suffers too. In diseases like metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), this connection becomes a key therapeutic target.
Researchers used a mouse model mimicking MASLD. Exposing mice to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a toxic compound made by Aspergillus fungi, triggered liver injury, inflammation, and damage to the gut lining. But when these mice were treated with 10-HSA, the researchers saw a dramatic reversal of the liver and gut damage: gut epithelial barrier was restored; key bile acid metabolites like cholesterol and deoxycholate returned to healthy levels; energy metabolism and the detoxification functions in the liver improved; gut immune responses normalized.
Chronic liver diseases like MASLD and cirrhosis are driven in part by the suppression of PPARα signaling. 10-HSA activates PPARα, a protein that regulates lipid metabolism. By activating PPARα, the molecule repaired liver tissue and supported gut health. With strong preclinical evidence and no toxicity concerns, the researchers are preparing for human clinical trials, especially in people with fatty liver disease or metabolic issues.
