From gasotransmitter to therapeutic insight: Unraveling the role of H₂S in the gut-liver axis during NAFLD

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a widespread chronic liver condition with intricate pathogenesis and poses substantial challenges for clinical management. The gut-liver axis is integral to the pathogenesis of NAFLD, and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), a gaseous signaling molecule, offers novel insights into its pathophysiology. This review investigates the characteristics of H₂S within the gut and liver at the gut-liver axis level, examines the role of gut-liver interactions in NAFLD, and evaluates the potential function of H₂S as a crucial link in the pathogenesis of NAFLD via the gut-liver axis. By analyzing the role of H₂S within the gut-liver axis, this review highlights its potential therapeutic value in NAFLD, thereby providing a critical theoretical foundation for advancing the understanding of NAFLD's pathophysiological mechanisms and the development of novel targeted therapies.