Changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota induced by amiodarone
Several clinical studies and animal models have demonstrated that altered intestinal microbiota and increased intestinal permeability are key factors in the pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Thus, maintaining intestinal homeostasis may mitigate the pathological progression of MASH. However, the relationship between the pathological progression of drug-induced MASH and intestinal homeostasis is unclear. Amiodarone (AMD) is one of the principal causes of drug-induced steatohepatitis, which may develop in 1%-3% of patients undergoing chronic AMD treatment. Elucidating the pathogenesis of drug-induced MASH through pathological changes in the small intestine may help develop therapeutic approaches. In this study, given that MASH progression may be influenced by gastrointestinal microbiota changes, we performed 16S rRNA analysis in AMD-treated mice.