Microbiota, immunity and the liver

•The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in influencing immune responses.•Disruption in the composition of the microbiota has been associated with the pathogenesis of various liver diseases.•Methods of altering the composition of the gut microbiota have shown promising outcomes in the treatment of liver diseases.

The gut harbors a complex community of over 100 trillion microbial cells known to exist in symbiotic harmony with the host influencing human physiology, metabolism, nutrition and immune function. It is now widely accepted that perturbations of this close partnership results in the pathogenesis of several major diseases with increasing evidence highlighting their role outside of the intestinal tract. The intimate proximity and circulatory loop of the liver and the gut has attracted significant attention regarding the role of the microbiota in the development and progression of liver disease. Here we give an overview of the interaction between the microbiota and the immune system and focus on their convincing role in both the propagation and treatment of liver disease.