Promoting intestinal antimicrobial defense and microbiome symbiosis contributes to IL-22-mediated protection against alcoholic hepatitis in mice

The mechanisms by which alcohol provokes bacterial translocation in the development of alcohol-induced liver damage remain incompletely defined, leading to increasing interests in the epithelial innate immune responses. The present study was set to determine the mechanisms of how alcohol inhibits the antimicrobial ability of intestinal epithelial cells and to explore possible solutions to this issue. We found that interleukin 22 is involved in the regulation of Paneth cell alpha defensins via signal transducer and activator of transcription 3. Gut microbiota analysis revealed dramatic changes in microbial compositions caused by alcohol and interleukin 22, especially a robust expansion of commensal Akkermansia spp. in interleukin 22 treated group compared to alcohol only group.