Resveratrol Alleviates Liver Fibrosis Induced by Long-Term Inorganic Mercury Exposure through Activating the Sirt1/PGC-1α Signaling Pathway

Liver disease has become an important risk factor for global health. Resveratrol (Res) is a natural polyphenol which is widely found in foods and has a variety of biological activities. This study investigated the role of the microbiota-gut-liver axis in the Res relieving the liver fibrosis induced by inorganic mercury exposure. Twenty-eight mice were divided into four groups (n = 7) and treated with mercuric chloride and/or Res for 24 weeks, respectively. The results showed that Res mitigated the ileum injury induced by inorganic mercury and restrained LPS and alcohol entering the body circulation. Network pharmacological and molecular analyses showed that Res alleviated oxidative stress, metabolism disorders, inflammation, and hepatic stellate cell activation in the liver. In conclusion, Res alleviates liver fibrosis induced by inorganic mercury via activating the Sirt1/PGC-1 alpha signaling pathway and regulating the microbial-gut-liver axis, particularly, increasing the relative enrichment of Bifidobacterium in the intestinal tract.