Review for 10.1186/s12876-017-0689-3 (2017)

Reviewer ’s report  
Title: Gut microbiota -mediated generation of saturated fatty acids elic its inflammation in the 
liver in murine high -fat diet -induced steatohepatitis  
 
Version: 0 Date: 22 Apr 2017  
 
Reviewer: Dechun Feng  
 
Reviewer's report:  
In this study, the authors used a newly developed NASH model to study the contribution of gut 
microbiota in t he development of NASH. They found that saturated fatty acid were involved in 
the impact of gut microbiota on the NASH pathogenesis. The study is interesting but still some 
concerns:  
 
1. The notion that antibiotics and  treatment can reduce the severity wa s reported in many 
studies (J Clin Invest. 2015 Jan;125(1):386 -402, Digestion 23(1):9 -15, J Hepatol 48(6):983 -
992). Also, the involvement of saturated fatty acid in the fatty liver was reported (J Physiol. 
2017 Mar 1;595(5):1831 -1846), please explain the n ovelty of the current study.  
 
2. Usually, without collagenase digestion, it is very hard to get F4/80high Kupffer cells. The 
data in Fig.4A is not that convincing since most of the Kupffer cells were lost with 
hepatocytes.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, pl ease specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately suppo rted by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
I am able to assess the statistics  
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
Acceptable  
Declaration of competing interests  
Please c omplete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication o f this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
3. Do you hold or are you currently ap plying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
5. Do you have any other f inancial competing interests?  
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
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to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal