Elafibranor alleviates alcohol-related liver fibrosis by restoring intestinal barrier function

We discuss the article by Koizumi <i>et al</i> published in the <i>World Journal of Gastroenterology</i>. Our focus is on the therapeutic targets for fibrosis associated with alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) and the mechanism of action of elafibranor (EFN), a dual agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and peroxisome PPAR δ (PPARδ). EFN is currently in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and primary biliary cholangitis. ALD progresses from alcoholic fatty liver to alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH), with chronic ASH eventually leading to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and, in some cases, hepatocellular carcinoma. The pathogenesis of ALD is driven by hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress, and acetaldehyde toxicity. Alcohol consumption disrupts lipid metabolism by inactivating PPARα, exacerbating the progression of ALD. EFN primarily activates PPARα, promoting lipolysis and β-oxidation in ethanol-stimulated HepG2 cells, which significantly reduces hepatic steatosis, apoptosis, and fibrosis in an ALD mouse model. Additionally, alcohol disrupts the gut-liver axis at several interconnected levels, contributing to a proinflammatory environment in the liver. EFN helps alleviate intestinal hyperpermeability by restoring tight junction protein expression and autophagy, inhibiting apoptosis and inflammatory responses, and enhancing intestinal barrier function through PPARδ activation.