PSSLD

WORLD DIGESTIVE HEALTH DAY – 2020

The Gut-Liver Axis

Pakistan Society for the Study of Liver Diseases (PSSLD) organized a webinar on 30th May in collaboration with WGO to commemorate WDHD 2020. The title of the webinar was “The Gut Liver Axis”. Prof. Saeed Hamid, from Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan who is also Chair, Hepatology Interest Group WGO, moderated the Webinar. Prof. Zaigham Abbas from the Ziauddin University Karachi and current President of PSSLD, gave the first presentation on the topic. Several factors affect the development and alteration of the gut microbiome including birthing and infant feeding method, exposure to physical, metabolic, and psychological stress, environment, diet, medications, and stage of the lifecycle, and comorbid diseases.

The interaction of gut with the host is mostly indirect and is mediated by their metabolic products, also called postbiotics, “The Gut-Liver Axis is a bidirectional relationship between the gut microbiota and the liver. This reciprocal interaction is established by the portal vein which transports gut-derived products directly to the liver and the liver feedback route of bile and antibody secretion to the intestine”, Dr. Abbas added. Prof. Wasim Jafri, from Aga Khan University and Director WGO Karachi Training Center introduced the next key speaker, Prof. Eamonn Quigley. Professor Quigley is Co- Chair, WDHD 2020 Campaign. He spoke on ‘Gut Microbiome and Liver Disease’ and mentioned vascular, lymphatic, and liver firewalls that captures gut bacteria entering the blood stream. He also shed light on the role of gut microbiota in chronic liver disease, hepatic encephalopathy, acute liver injury, hepatocellular carcinoma, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and non-alcoholic and alcoholic fatty liver disease. Professor Masood Siddiq, former president PSSLD introduced the next speaker, Professor Jasmohan Bajaj. He is a member of the WDHD 2020 Steering Committee. He discussed ‘Therapies Targeting the Gut-Liver Axis’ and concluded that microbiota can be managed in several ways to benefit liver disease. This online seminar had a good turnout of participants from different parts of the world.