Fig. 7: Transferring fecal microbiota obtained from DSF-treated humans into GF mice ameliorates NASH.

a Experimental design. GF mice were fed a CDAHFD and randomized into 2 groups (GF (BD → NASH) and GF (AD → NASH)). Meanwhile, mice were gavaged with fecal contents obtained from BD and AD humans, respectively twice a week for 9 weeks. b–d Serum ALT and AST; hepatic TG. e Representative images of gross appearance of the liver histology (1 cm) and photomicrographs of fixed liver sections after staining with H&E (200 μm), ORO (200 μm), α-SMA antibody (200 μm), Masson (200 μm) and F4/80 antibody (50 μm). f Quantification of the liver index (%), NAS, fold change in ORO area, α-SMA-positive area (%), CVF (%) and F4/80-positive cells (%). g Graphical abstract. a–f n = 15/11 individuals/group in BD and AD group, respectively. Each point represented an individual. Differences in data between 2 groups were calculated by two-sided Mann–Whitney test or unpaired, two-sided t test depending on the sample distribution type. Data were represented as mean ± SEM. Exact P values were all given. Data were pooled from three independent experiments. AD volunteers after DSF treatment, α-SMA α-smooth muscle actin, BD volunteers before DSF treatment, CVF collagen volume fraction, GF germ-free, H&E hematoxylin and eosin, NAS NAFLD activity score, NASH nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, ORO oil red O, TG triglyceride. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.