Gut & MicrobiomeNew drug DT-109 reverses severe fatty liver disease in animals by repairing the gut barrier
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a severe form of fatty liver disease affecting roughly 7% of people worldwide. It can progress to cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure, and treatment options remain limited. University of Michigan researchers report that an experimental compound called DT-109, a three-amino-acid peptide built on glycine, reversed MASH in animal models. Rather than acting on the liver alone, it works through the gut. The drug reduced overgrowth of Clostridium perfringens, a bacterium that produces ammonia and damages the intestinal lining. By protecting that barrier, DT-109 blocked microbial toxins from reaching the liver, where they trigger inflammation and overactivate CD8+ T cells. The work, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, points to the gut-liver axis as a treatment target and may have implications for cardiovascular disease. The results come from animal studies, so human benefit remains unproven.
