Reviewer ’s report  
Title: Gut microbiota -mediated generation of saturated fatty acids elicits inflammation in the 
liver in murine high -fat diet -induced steatohepatitis  
 
Version: 1 Date: 26 Jun 2017  
 
Reviewer: Robert Schierwagen  
 
Reviewer's report:  
First of all I want to thank the authors for answering all queries. Unfortunately, there are still two 
issues with the manuscript that I feel uncomfortable with and which I would ask the authors to 
address.  
 
1. Even though I respect the wish of the authors to emphasize the advantage of their NASH 
model, the current introduction reads as this study is about NASH related HCC, due to the 
extensive mention of this topic. Since this study is not directly r elated to HCC, I would ask 
the authors to adapt the introduction to better fit the aims of the current study.  
 
2. It is still not clear to me why in the Abx group macrophages are migrating to the liver to the 
same extent as in the group without antibiotic treatment (Figure 4), when no liver damage 
was observed in this group (Figure 1)? What could be the trigger for recruitment if it is not 
diet induced changes of the metabolites or inflammatory markers? Could other 
inflammatory cells be involved to cause th e increase of inflammatory markers presented in 
Figure 1?  
 
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 int erests.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on th e website along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Reviewer ’s report  
Title: Gut microbiota -mediated generation of saturated fatty acids elicits inflammation in the 
liver in murine high -fat diet -induced steatohepatitis  
 
Version: 1 Date: 26 Jun 2017  
 
Reviewer: Robert Schierwagen  
 
Reviewer's report:  
First of all I want to thank the authors for answering all queries. Unfortunately, there are still two 
issues with the manuscript that I feel uncomfortable with and which I would ask the authors to 
address.  
 
1. Even though I respect the wish of the authors to emphasize the advantage of their NASH 
model, the current introduction reads as this study is about NASH related HCC, due to the 
extensive mention of this topic. Since this study is not directly r elated to HCC, I would ask 
the authors to adapt the introduction to better fit the aims of the current study.  
 
2. It is still not clear to me why in the Abx group macrophages are migrating to the liver to the 
same extent as in the group without antibiotic treatment (Figure 4), when no liver damage 
was observed in this group (Figure 1)? What could be the trigger for recruitment if it is not 
diet induced changes of the metabolites or inflammatory markers? Could other 
inflammatory cells be involved to cause th e increase of inflammatory markers presented in 
Figure 1?  
 
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 int erests.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on th e website along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer ’s report  
Title: Gut microbiota -mediated generation of saturated fatty acids elicits inflammation in the 
liver in murine high -fat diet -induced steatohepatitis  
 
Version: 1 Date: 26 Jun 2017  
 
Reviewer: Robert Schierwagen  
 
Reviewer's report:  
First of all I want to thank the authors for answering all queries. Unfortunately, there are still two 
issues with the manuscript that I feel uncomfortable with and which I would ask the authors to 
address.  
 
1. Even though I respect the wish of the authors to emphasize the advantage of their NASH 
model, the current introduction reads as this study is about NASH related HCC, due to the 
extensive mention of this topic. Since this study is not directly r elated to HCC, I would ask 
the authors to adapt the introduction to better fit the aims of the current study.  
 
2. It is still not clear to me why in the Abx group macrophages are migrating to the liver to the 
same extent as in the group without antibiotic treatment (Figure 4), when no liver damage 
was observed in this group (Figure 1)? What could be the trigger for recruitment if it is not 
diet induced changes of the metabolites or inflammatory markers? Could other 
inflammatory cells be involved to cause th e increase of inflammatory markers presented in 
Figure 1?  
 
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 int erests.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on th e website along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
assistant