New insights and therapeutic implication of gut microbiota in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and its associated liver cancer

The gastrointestinal tract represents one of the largest interfaces between the host and environmental factors. It contains a vast and complex community of microbes, forming what is collectively known as the microbiota. This gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of health, and 'dysbiosis' of the gut microbiota, commonly considered as perturbation of microbiota diversity and composition, has been associated with intestinal and extra-intestinal diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its associated hepatocellular carcinoma (NAFLD-HCC). In this review, we highlight microbiota dysbiosis and the microbiota-host interactions that link to the pathogenesis of NAFLD and NAFLD-HCC. We discuss the potential therapeutic implications of the gut microbiota in the progression of NAFLD-HCC. •Gut microbiota plays a mechanistic role in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). .•Gut microbiota profile is associated with HCC development in NAFLD patients.•Microbe-generated metabolites contribute to NAFLD and NAFLD-HCC pathogenesis. .•Host immune response is involved in gut microbiota-regulated NAFLD and NAFLD-HCC. .•Gut microbiota acts as a potential therapeutic target for NAFLD.