Basic Sciences

Clinical knowledge base written and curated by GastroAGI Team from primary medical literatureLast updated August 1, 2026

Overview

Building the foundation of medical understanding.

Hyodeoxycholic Acid Reduces Hepatic Steatosis Through Dual GLP-1 and Immune Pathways: Cell Reports | August 2026

Introduction: Bile acids are increasingly recognised as metabolic signalling molecules rather than simply mediators of digestion. This experimental study investigated hyodeoxycholic acid (HDCA) and identified two complementary pathways through which it reduces hepatic fat accumulation,...

IL-1α–IL1R1 Crosstalk Drives Ischaemia-Reperfusion Injury in the Aged Liver: Gut | August 2026

Introduction: Older livers are particularly vulnerable to hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) during liver surgery and transplantation, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using single-cell and spatial transcriptomics across human and animal livers, this study...

Iron-Addicted Colorectal Cancer Escapes Oxidative Cell Death Through a Heme–Complex II–CoQ Survival Pathway: Cell Metabolism | August 2026

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) cells require large amounts of iron to sustain rapid growth, DNA synthesis, and mitochondrial metabolism. Paradoxically, excessive intracellular iron is normally toxic because it promotes oxidative stress and ferroptosis, an iron-dependent...

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists May Reduce Obesity-Associated Cancer Risk in Nondiabetic Adults: Annals of Oncology | August 2026

Introduction: Obesity is a major risk factor for at least 13 obesity-associated cancers (OACs), and its global prevalence continues to rise. With the increasing use of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) for weight management in individuals...

CCR7⁺ Activated Dendritic Cells: Cell | August 2026

Introduction: Dendritic cells (DCs) are the key orchestrators of antitumor immunity, responsible for activating cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) that eliminate cancer cells. While conventional dendritic cell subsets (cDC1 and cDC2) are known to contribute to...

Aerobic Exercise Improves Frailty and Functional Health in Older Adults: Clinical Nutrition | August 2026

Introduction: Frailty is a major geriatric syndrome associated with falls, disability, hospitalisation, and reduced quality of life. Although aerobic exercise is widely recommended, the optimal type and dose for improving frailty and overall health remain...

Targeting Regulatory T Cells in Cancer Immunotherapy: Annals of Oncology | August 2026

Introduction: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for maintaining immune tolerance and preventing autoimmune disease. However, within the tumour microenvironment, these same cells suppress antitumor immune responses, allowing cancers to evade immune surveillance. As immune...

Barrier Restoration for Disorders of Gut–Brain Interaction: The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology | July 2026

Introduction: Disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI), including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional dyspepsia (FD), are increasingly recognised as disorders of impaired intestinal barrier function rather than purely functional diseases. This review explores intestinal barrier...

LY6D Identifies Persistent Stem-Like Cells Driving Pancreatic Tumorigenesis: Gut | July 2026

Introduction: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) develops through complex cellular heterogeneity driven by oncogenic KRAS and chronic inflammation. This study identifies LY6D as a marker of a persistent stem-like, gastric-like premalignant cell population that drives PDAC...

Microbiome and Aging: Innovation in Microbiome | July 2026

Introduction: Aging is increasingly recognized as a process influenced not only by human genetics but also by the microbiome. This review introduces the concept of microbiome age—a computational biomarker that integrates microbial composition, function, and...

Feeding Gut Microbes to Nourish the Brain: Nature Metabolism | July 2026

Introduction: The incidence of neuropsychiatric disorders and cognitive impairment is increasing worldwide, with poor diet emerging as a major modifiable risk factor. This comprehensive review introduces the concept of the Diet–Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis, highlighting how dietary...

Streptococcus anginosus–Derived Methionine Promotes Gastric Cancer Progression: Gut | July 2026

Introduction: Streptococcus anginosus has emerged as a microbial signature associated with gastric cancer, but the mechanism linking this bacterium to tumour progression has remained unclear. This study identifies bacterially produced methionine as a key metabolite...

GSK3βhigh/NFATc1high in Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer: Gut | July 2026

Introduction: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most treatment-resistant cancers, with rapid recurrence and poor survival despite surgery and chemotherapy. This study identifies a novel molecular subtype of PDAC driven by GSK3β–NFATc1 signaling,...

VIDA mRNA: Cell | July 2026

Introduction: Current antiviral therapies are generally virus-specific and vulnerable to viral mutations. Inspired by the success of mRNA vaccines, this study introduces Viral Protease-Initiated Lytic Cell Death (VIDA)—a novel mRNA platform that selectively destroys virus-infected...

A20 Protects Against Autoimmune Hepatitis: Gut | July 2026

The July 2026 Gut study on “A20 Protects Against Autoimmune Hepatitis” shows that A20 is a critical protective factor in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and helps prevent liver damage by blocking ferroptosis, a form of iron-dependent...

KLF9 Links Intermittent Hypoxia to MASLD: Hepatology | July 2026

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is increasingly recognized as an important metabolic risk factor due to recurrent episodes of intermittent hypoxia (IH). Clinical studies have linked OSA with metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), but...

Catestatin Improves Glucose Control by Modulating Gut Motility: Gut | July 2026

Introduction: Altered gut motility is increasingly recognized as a contributor to metabolic dysfunction through the gut–brain axis. Enterosynes are gut-derived bioactive molecules that regulate intestinal motility and influence systemic glucose homeostasis. This study investigated whether...

Diet–Microbiome Synergy Enhances Immunotherapy Response in Obesity: Nature | July 2026

Introduction: The gut microbiome and obesity are both known to influence cancer immunotherapy outcomes, yet the interaction between diet, obesity, and the microbiome has remained unclear. This landmark study demonstrates that the diet–microbiome axis, rather...

ARID1A Loss Drives ICC Development: Hepatology | June 2026

Introduction: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is an aggressive primary liver cancer with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. While ICC has traditionally been considered a malignancy of biliary epithelial cells, increasing evidence suggests that hepatocytes can...

Blocking Succinate–GPR91 Signaling in MASH: Hepatology | April 2026

Introduction: Liver fibrosis is the key determinant of long-term outcomes in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) drive fibrogenesis, but effective antifibrotic therapies remain unavailable. This study investigated whether blocking the succinate–GPR91...

THRSP–MIF Signaling Drives MASH Progression: Hepatology | April 2026

Introduction: The progression from metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver (MAFL) to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is driven by complex interactions between hepatocytes and immune cells. This study identifies a novel spatial mechanism in the periportal (PP)...

Butyrate and Butyrate-Producing Bacteria in CKM: Antioxidants | July 2026

Introduction: Cardiovascular–Kidney–Metabolic (CKM) syndrome recognizes the close interaction between obesity, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease. This review highlights the emerging role of the gut microbiome, particularly butyrate-producing bacteria, as a central...

CK7, CK20, and CDX2 Refine Prognosis in Small Intestinal Adenocarcinoma: Annals of Oncology | 2026

Small intestinal adenocarcinoma (SIA) is a rare gastrointestinal cancer with limited disease-specific prognostic biomarkers and generally poor outcomes. This nationwide Dutch population-based study evaluated whether three routinely available immunohistochemical markers—CK7, CK20, and CDX2—have prognostic value...

Fatty Liver Drives Hyperglycemia Through Liver–Gut Signaling : Cell Metab | Jun 2026

Introduction: Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is closely linked to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, with the liver traditionally viewed as a key regulator of blood glucose through hepatic glucose production. However, emerging...

Neural Remodeling Drives Early Pancreatic Carcinogenesis : Gastroenterology | Jul 2026

Introduction: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) develops through a series of precursor lesions, beginning with acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM) and progressing to pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive cancer. While genetic alterations such as KRAS mutations are established...

Engineered CAR-T Cells Boost STING Therapy in Pancreatic Cancer : Gastroenterology | Jul 2026

Introduction: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment of hematologic malignancies but has achieved limited success in solid tumors such as pancreatic cancer. Major barriers include T-cell exhaustion, poor persistence within tumors,...

Adipose Tissue: Nature Reviews Endocrinology | June 2026

Adipose tissue is no longer viewed simply as a fat storage organ; it is now recognized as a highly active endocrine and neuro-regulatory organ that coordinates whole-body metabolism. Adipose tissue communicates through two major pathways:...

ANGPTL3 Inhibitors Deliver Broad Lipid Lowering : Eur J Prev Cardiol | June 2026

Introduction: Despite major advances in lipid-lowering therapy, many patients continue to experience residual cardiovascular risk, particularly those with elevated triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and mixed dyslipidemia. Angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) has emerged as an attractive therapeutic target...

Inflammation Creates New Therapeutic Vulnerabilities in Cancer: Nature Genetics | June 2026

Cancer cells constantly adapt to inflammatory stress generated by the immune system, particularly during immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. This study explored whether inflammatory cytokines such as interferon-γ (IFNγ), interferon-β, and TNF create new weaknesses that...

F. nucleatum Linked to Worse CRC Survival : Cancer | June 2026

Introduction: The colorectal cancer (CRC) microbiome has emerged as a key factor influencing tumor development, progression, and response to treatment. Among microbial species implicated in CRC, Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum), an oral anaerobic bacterium, has...

Inflammation Creates New Therapeutic Vulnerabilities in Cancer: Nature Genetics | June 2026

TLS Atlas: Turning Tumor Immune Architecture into a Clinical Biomarker: Science | May 2026

Tertiary lymphoid structures are local immune hubs within tumors, but this study shows that their mere presence is not enough; their maturation, location, and cellular organization determine biological and clinical relevance. This pan-cancer study analyzed...

CLDN18.2 in PDAC: KRAS and Hyperglycaemia Create a Resistance Mechanism: Gut | 2026

CLDN18.2 is emerging as a therapeutic target in gastrointestinal cancers, but its benefit in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has been limited. This study identifies a key resistance mechanism: KRAS mutation and hyperglycaemia drive O-GlcNAcylation of CLDN18.2,...

The Oral–X Axis: How Oral Dysbiosis Drives Systemic Disease: Genes & Diseases | June 2026

The oral cavity contains the second largest microbial ecosystem in the human body and acts as a major interface between the external environment and multiple organ systems. This review introduces the concept of the “Oral–X...

Exercise After Bariatric Surgery: Gut Microbiota as a Metabolic Amplifier: International Journal of Obesity | June 2026

This translational study investigated whether exercise-induced changes in gut microbiota contribute to the metabolic benefits observed after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. Thirty-two women undergoing bariatric surgery were randomized to surgery alone or surgery plus a...

Bacterial Signaling Molecules Drive Colitis-Associated Cancer : Gastroenterology | Jun 2026

Introduction: Chronic inflammation is the principal driver of colitis-associated cancer (CAC) in patients with long-standing ulcerative colitis (UC). Although the intestinal microbiome has long been implicated in colorectal carcinogenesis, the precise microbial mediators linking inflammation...

KRAS–O-GlcNAc Axis Drives CLDN18.2 Resistance in PDAC : Gut | June 2026

Introduction: Introduction: Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) has emerged as an important therapeutic target in gastrointestinal malignancies, with encouraging results in gastric and gastroesophageal cancers. Its expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has generated considerable interest for...

APE1–SOX9 Axis Drives Chemoresistance in Esophageal Cancer : Gastroenterology | June 2026

Introduction: Esophageal Adenocarcinoma is an aggressive malignancy strongly associated with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease and exposure to acidic bile reflux. Despite advances in multimodal therapy, chemotherapy resistance remains a major barrier to durable disease control...

Single-Dose PCSK9 Base Editing Achieves Durable LDL Reduction : NEJM | May 2026

Introduction Hypercholesterolemia remains a major driver of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease despite the availability of statins, PCSK9 inhibitors and RNA-based therapies. Lifelong treatment adherence and incomplete LDL reduction continue to limit long-term risk modification in high-risk...

Pediatric Single-Cell Liver Atlas Reveals Distinct Age-Dependent Immune and Fibrotic Signatures : Hepatol Commun | May 2026

Introduction Liver development during childhood involves dynamic metabolic, immune and stromal maturation processes that differ substantially from adult liver biology. However, most hepatic single-cell reference atlases and mechanistic studies have focused predominantly on adult tissue....

Hereditary Pancreatitis Plasticity Accelerates KRAS-Driven Carcinogenesis : Gut | May 2026

Introduction Chronic Pancreatitis is a well-established risk factor for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, particularly in hereditary pancreatitis syndromes where lifetime cancer risk is markedly elevated. However, the biologic mechanisms linking chronic pancreatic inflammation to early malignant...

Autophagic HIF-1α Degradation Extends Mammalian Lifespan : Nat Aging | May 2026

Introduction Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1-alpha is a master regulator of cellular adaptation to hypoxia, coordinating metabolic reprogramming, angiogenesis and stress responses. Although transient HIF-1α activation is protective during acute hypoxic stress, chronic HIF-1α accumulation has increasingly...

Microvillar Contacts Govern PD-1 Checkpoint Signaling : Sci Immunol | May 2026

Introduction Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 blockade has revolutionized cancer immunotherapy, yet the precise spatial and temporal mechanisms by which PD-1 suppresses T-cell activation remain incompletely understood. Although PD-1 signaling is known to inhibit T-cell...

Autophagy Modulation in Cancer: Therapeutic Promise and Complexity : Nat Rev Drug Discov | May 2026

Introduction Autophagy is a highly conserved cellular homeostatic mechanism that enables recycling of intracellular components, removal of damaged organelles and adaptation to metabolic stress. In cancer biology, autophagy has emerged as a paradoxical process with...

Hepatocyte CCL9 Drives Fibrogenic Immune Signaling : Hepatology | Apr 2026

Introduction Liver Fibrosis results from persistent hepatic injury, chronic inflammation and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Chemokine-mediated immune recruitment is central to fibrogenesis, yet many inflammatory pathways governing hepatocyte–immune–stromal interactions remain incompletely characterized. This...

B-Cell Dysfunction and TLS Biology in iCCA : Gut | May 2026

B-Cell Dysfunction and TLS Biology in iCCA : Gut | May 2026 Introduction Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma is characterised by a highly desmoplastic and immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment (TME), contributing to poor responsiveness to systemic therapies and immune...

Gut-Derived Ammonia Drives CD8 T-Cell–Mediated MASH : J Clin Invest | May 2026

Introduction Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis is increasingly recognized as a multisystem disorder involving complex interactions between metabolism, intestinal microbiota, immune activation and fibrosis. Although gut dysbiosis has long been implicated in MASH progression, the precise microbial...

circPLCE1 Loss Drives Fibrosis in Crohn’s Disease : Gut | May 2026

Introduction Intestinal fibrosis is a major complication of Crohn’s Disease and remains a leading cause of bowel strictures, obstruction and repeated surgery. Current anti-inflammatory therapies have limited efficacy once fibrotic remodeling becomes established, highlighting the...

Neonatal Metabolomic Signatures Predict Future IBD : Gastroenterology | May 2026

Introduction Early-life environmental and immunologic exposures are increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of Inflammatory bowel disease. Altered neonatal microbiota, elevated fecal calprotectin and immune dysregulation have previously been observed in children born to mothers with...

CTNNA1-Associated HDGC Spectrum : Gut | May 2026

Introduction Germline CTNNA1 variants have emerged as an important cause of hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC), yet their clinical penetrance, disease spectrum and biological mechanisms have remained poorly defined. Unlike the classical HDGC gene CDH1,...

Parasutterella-Driven NETosis Worsens UC and CAC : Gut | May 2026

Introduction Microbial dysbiosis plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) and inflammation-associated colorectal cancer. Among emerging pathobionts, Parasutterella excrementihominis has recently gained attention because of its enrichment in patients with UC,...

Loneliness, Cortisol and NK Dysfunction in Chronic Stress : Psychoneuroendocrinology | May 2026

Introduction Psychosocial stressors such as loneliness, chronic stress and social disadvantage are increasingly recognized as major contributors to cardiometabolic disease. Natural killer cell activity plays a central role in immune surveillance, inflammation regulation and cardiovascular...

Human Di-lineage Hepatic Spheroids Reproduce Key Features of MASLD : Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol | May 2026

Introduction Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease affects nearly one-third of the global population and spans a disease spectrum from steatosis to steatohepatitis, fibrosis and cirrhosis. Despite major advances in clinical hepatology, the molecular mechanisms driving...

Lifestyle-Based Multimodal Prevention Strategies for Alzheimer’s Disease : Curr Alzheimer Res | May 2026

Introduction Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is increasingly recognized as a multifactorial disorder driven by complex interactions among genetic susceptibility, metabolic dysfunction, neuroinflammation and environmental exposures. With currently available pharmacotherapies offering only modest disease modification, attention has...

Fractalkine mRNA-LNPs Enable In Vivo CD8 T-Cell Reprogramming : Sci Immunol | May 2026

Introduction Adoptive cellular immunotherapies have transformed cancer treatment, but current strategies generally require ex vivo cell engineering, manufacturing complexity and individualized processing. The ability to selectively reprogram cytotoxic effector CD8 T cells directly in vivo...

circPLCE1 Loss Drives Fibrosis in Crohn’s Disease : Gut | May 2026

Introduction Intestinal fibrosis is a major complication of Crohn’s disease, frequently leading to strictures, bowel obstruction and surgery. While fibroblast activation is central to fibrogenesis, the metabolic pathways driving intestinal fibrosis remain poorly understood. Emerging...

Regulatory T Cells as a Double-Edged Sword in Cancer Immunotherapy : Annals of Oncology | May 2026

Introduction Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are central mediators of immune tolerance and immune homeostasis. In cancer, however, these same suppressive functions are frequently exploited by tumors to evade antitumor immunity, making Tregs an increasingly important...

Metformin Reframed as a Gut-Targeted Mitochondrial Therapy for Glycaemic Control : Nat Metab | May 2026

Introduction Metformin remains the cornerstone first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus, yet its dominant therapeutic mechanism has remained controversial for decades. While traditional models emphasized hepatic gluconeogenesis suppression, emerging evidence increasingly points toward the...

Histone H4 Dopaminylation Emerges as a Novel Epigenetic Regulator of Tumor Growth : Nat Chem Biol | May 2026

Introduction Post-translational modifications are fundamental regulators of gene expression, chromatin organization and cellular behavior. Dopaminylation, a recently identified modification involving covalent attachment of dopamine to glutamine residues on proteins, has emerged as a novel signaling...

Two Decades of PARP Inhibitor Synthetic Lethality Redefined Precision Oncology : Nature | May 2026

Introduction The discovery of synthetic lethality between BRCA1/BRCA2 deficiency and PARP inhibition fundamentally transformed cancer therapeutics and became one of the defining advances in modern precision oncology. By selectively targeting DNA repair vulnerabilities in tumor...

Repurposing Legacy Cytotoxics May Define the Next Generation of ADCs : Trends in Cancer | May 2026

Introduction Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) have transformed oncology by enabling selective delivery of potent cytotoxic agents directly to tumor cells. Recent successes, particularly with trastuzumab deruxtecan, have expanded the role of ADCs across multiple solid tumors...

Cytotoxic Tissue-Resident NK Cells Show Potent Antitumor Activity in Solid Tumors : Science Translational Medicine | May 2026

Introduction Natural killer (NK) cell–based immunotherapy has emerged as a promising strategy in cancer treatment because of its ability to mediate tumor killing without prior antigen sensitization. However, clinical efficacy in solid tumors has remained...

Centenarians and the Secret of a Youthful Immune System: Nat Rev Immun | May 2026

Introduction Ageing is typically associated with declining immune function (immunosenescence) and chronic low-grade inflammation (inflammageing), leading to increased susceptibility to infections, cancer, and metabolic diseases. However, centenarians—individuals aged 100 years or more—represent a unique population...

TAK1 Blockade May Turn “Cold” Pancreatic Cancer Immunologically Hot: Gastroenterology | May 2026

Introduction and Summary Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma remains one of the most immunotherapy-resistant gastrointestinal cancers. A major reason is its dense, immunologically “cold” tumour microenvironment, where cytotoxic T cells are either absent, excluded, or functionally impaired....

Role of Innate Oral Immunity and Salivary Fluid in IBD: CMGH | April 2026

Introduction Inflammatory bowel disease is increasingly understood as a disorder shaped not only by the gut itself, but also by extraintestinal immune and microbial influences. The oral cavity is one such important site because it...

Microbiota–Inflammasome Axis: Gut | April 2026

Introduction The gastrointestinal tract functions as a highly integrated system where digestion, immunity, and metabolic regulation are closely linked to the gut microbiota. This vast microbial ecosystem plays a central role in maintaining mucosal integrity,...

Non-invasive Assessment of Gut Barrier Function in Environmental Enteropathy Using TFS: Gut | April 2026

Introduction Undernutrition remains a major global health challenge, particularly in low-resource settings, and is closely linked to a complex gut disorder known as environmental enteropathy (EE). EE is characterised by impaired intestinal barrier function (“leaky...

Dengue Suppression by Male Wolbachia-Infected Mosquitoes: NEJM | March 2026

Introduction Dengue continues to emerge as a major global public health challenge, driven by rapid urbanisation, climate change, and the expansion of mosquito habitats. Conventional vector-control strategies such as insecticides, source reduction, and repellents have...

Molecularly Guided Therapy in HCC: Journal of Hepatology | March 2026

Introduction Advanced primary liver cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma, remain difficult to treat once they become refractory to standard systemic therapies. Survival outcomes are poor, and therapeutic options are limited, particularly in heavily pretreated...

Berberine and Cholestatic Liver Disease: Clinical and Molecular Hepatology | March 2026

Introduction Cholestatic liver disease (CLD) is a progressive condition characterised by impaired bile formation and flow, leading to bile accumulation, liver injury, and eventual cirrhosis or liver failure. Despite advances in hepatology, treatment options remain...

Obesity and Cancer: JAMA March 2026

Obesity is no longer viewed only as a metabolic disorder; it is now a major cancer-promoting state. This review explains how excess adiposity drives cancer through intertwined biologic pathways including chronic inflammation, hormonal dysregulation, immune...

PDE5A+ Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Gastric Cancer: Gut, March 2026

Introduction Gastric cancer remains one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide. The tumour microenvironment (TME)—particularly cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs)—plays a critical role in tumour progression, immune evasion, and resistance to immunotherapy. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)...

Bimagrumab + Semaglutide: BELIEVE STUDY: Nature Medicine | 2026

Introduction Most obesity therapies reduce body fat, but they also cause a meaningful loss of lean mass, including skeletal muscle. This matters because preserving muscle is important for physical function, metabolic health, and long-term weight...

TAF2 Drives Hepatocyte Survival in HCC: Hepatology March 26

Chromosome 8q amplification, a common genomic alteration in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), includes the gene TATA-box binding protein–associated factor 2 (TAF2), a key component of the TFIID basal transcription complex. This study demonstrates that TAF2 is...

In Vivo CRISPR Screens in Gastric Organoids: Gastroenterology | March 2026

Introduction Understanding which genes restrain gastric tumor growth—and how host factors like Helicobacter pylori shape tumor biology—remains central to precision prevention and therapy. CRISPR-Cas9 loss-of-function screening offers a scalable way to discover tumor suppressors, but...

Understanding Polyposis Development: Gastroenterology | March 26

Introduction Most clinicians recognise classic inherited polyposis syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) from pathogenic variants in APC, and MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP) from biallelic MUTYH variants. Yet, a large proportion of patients with 20–100...

Single-Cell Multimodal Analysis Reveals the Dynamic Immunopathogenesis of HBV-ACLF: Gut | 2026 | DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2024-333308

Introduction Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a highly dynamic and life-threatening syndrome marked by intense systemic inflammation and immune dysregulation. In Asia, hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation is a leading trigger of ACLF. However, the...

UGT1A1 Genotype-Guided Irinotecan Dosing and Survival in Colorectal & Pancreatic Cancer - The Lancet | May 2026

Introduction UGT1A1 poor metabolisers (PMs) are at higher risk of severe irinotecan-related toxicity. A 30% upfront dose reduction is commonly recommended for safety, but whether this compromises survival has remained uncertain. Summary In this Dutch...

Genetic Landscape of PSVD: Hepatology, Feb.26

Porto-sinusoidal vascular disorder (PSVD) is a rare, non-cirrhotic vascular liver disease characterised by portal venule and sinusoidal abnormalities leading to portal hypertension. Despite its clinical significance, the underlying pathophysiology has remained poorly understood. In this...

GLP-1 Medicines 2.0: Nature Medicine-Feb. 26

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have evolved from glucose-lowering agents for type 2 diabetes into transformative therapies reshaping cardiometabolic medicine. In this comprehensive review, Daniel Drucker outlines how GLP-1–based therapies now extend well beyond glycemic...

Single-Cell Multiomics Maps the Immune Storm Driving HBV-ACLF Progression- Gut Feb.26

This longitudinal single-cell multiomics study provides a detailed immune roadmap of HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF), a syndrome marked by profound immune dysregulation and high short-term mortality. Using single-cell RNA sequencing and proteomics from 45...

LECT2–PHB2 Signaling: A New Target in Alcohol-Associated Hepatitis

Alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) remains a high-mortality condition with limited effective therapies. A central driver of disease progression is excessive hepatic inflammation, particularly massive neutrophil infiltration, triggered by cytokine signaling, chemokine release (e.g., CXCL1, CXCL8), endothelial...

ER Stress as the Molecular Bridge Between MASH and Hepatocellular Carcinoma- Hepatology Feb.26

Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is rapidly becoming a leading driver of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This comprehensive review highlights endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR) as a central molecular link connecting chronic...

Targeting Caspase-8 to Slow MASH Progression- Hepatology Feb.26

Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is driven by oxidative stress, hepatocyte injury, inflammation, and fibrosis. Activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway has long been associated with MASH, but whether JNK signaling in hepatocytes is...

Macrotrabecular HCC- Hepatology 26

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) displays marked histologic heterogeneity that reflects distinct biological behaviors and treatment responses. Among recognized variants, macrotrabecular–massive HCC (MT-HCC) represents a particularly aggressive subtype characterized by thick tumor trabeculae wrapped by endothelial cells....

A Whole-Blood Bioartificial Liver in Preclinical Models- J Hepatol Feb.26

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and acute liver failure (ALF) are life-threatening conditions marked by severe hepatic dysfunction combined with overwhelming systemic inflammation. Mortality remains extremely high because no available therapy can simultaneously control inflammation and...

Adipose Macrophage sEVs in MASH: Promise With Mechanistic Gaps- Gastroenterology Feb.26

Introduction Metabolically–dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is increasingly recognised as a multiorgan disease, with pathogenic signalling extending beyond the liver. Rohm et al. propose an intriguing extrahepatic mechanism: adipose tissue macrophage (ATM)–derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) carrying...

LKB1 Loss Primes the Serrated Pathway in the Intestine- Gastroenterology Feb.26

Introduction Peutz–Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a hereditary cancer-predisposition condition caused by germline mutations in LKB1 (STK11). While patients are known to have an increased risk of gastrointestinal cancers, how partial loss of LKB1 reshapes intestinal...

Envbiotics-Front. Med. 2026

What Are Envbiotics? Envbiotics is a term that encapsulates the idea of regulating and optimising gut microbiota indirectly by focusing on the environmental conditions of the gut rather than directly modifying microbial populations or supplying...

What is serum Metabolomic Signature, Summary of the results (AP&T) - Jan,2026

It seems you're asking about the concept of serum metabolomic signatures and their summarized results as detailed in the study mentioned in the context. While the specific reference to "AP&T - Jan, 2026" appears to...

Cellular protagonists of Crohn’s fistula formation

The formation of fistulas in Crohn's disease (CD) involves specific cellular players and processes that contribute to their development and persistence. Recent research has revealed that fibroblasts, a type of connective tissue cell, play a...

The Protein Denitrosylase SCoR2 Regulates Lipogenesis and Fat Storage

Yes, the protein denitrosylase SCoR2 (SNO–CoA reductase 2) plays a central role in regulating lipogenesis (the process of lipid synthesis) and fat storage, as revealed in the research article. SCoR2 is proposed to act as...

CTRB2 misfolding variant

The CTRB2 misfolding variant refers to a genetic alteration involving the deletion of exon 6 in the CTRB2 gene, which encodes a protein called chymotrypsinogen B2. This variant has been linked to an increased risk...

Oral microbiome and inflammatory bowel disease: New understanding and call to action

The relationship between the oral microbiome and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents a rapidly evolving area of research that has expanded our understanding of IBD pathogenesis and progression. Traditionally, IBD was primarily associated with gut...

Gut-lung immunometabolic crosstalk in sepsis

Gut-lung immunometabolic crosstalk in sepsis is a critical concept that highlights the bidirectional interactions between the gut and lungs, which play a pivotal role in the progression of sepsis and its associated complications, such as...

Artesunate Induces Ferroptosis in Hepatic Stellate Cells and Alleviates Liver Fibrosis

Artesunate (Art) has emerged as a promising therapeutic agent for liver fibrosis due to its ability to induce ferroptosis in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which play a central role in the progression of liver fibrosis....

Integrated ubiquitomics characterization of hepatocellular carcinomas

The integrated ubiquitomics characterization of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) is a comprehensive study that combines proteomic, phosphoproteomic, and ubiquitomic analyses to uncover molecular mechanisms driving HCC progression and identify potential therapeutic targets. Below is a detailed...

unstable mitochondrial DNA mutations in HCC at single-cell resolution

Unstable mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were studied using a novel sequencing platform called single-cell capture-based mtDNA sequencing (sc-CAMS). This method allowed researchers to analyze mtDNA mutations at single-cell resolution, providing detailed...

Role of TREM2 in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 2 (TREM2) is a receptor found on macrophages and other immune cells, playing a critical role in immune regulation and inflammation. In the context of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC),...

Elevated FBXO45 and metastatic HCC

Elevated FBXO45 expression has been identified as a critical driver of metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), particularly in cases involving TP53 mutations. Below is a detailed explanation of the relationship between elevated FBXO45 and metastatic...

Mechanocrine signaling, Yap, HB-EGF, and liver regeneration.

Mechanocrine signaling, Yap (Yes-associated protein), HB-EGF (heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor), and liver regeneration are interconnected elements that play pivotal roles in the process of liver regrowth, particularly after partial hepatectomy (PHx). Below is a detailed...

Stretch-induced hepatic endothelial mechanocrine and hepatocyte proliferation

The study focuses on how mechanical stretching of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) after partial hepatectomy (surgical removal of a part of the liver) triggers liver regeneration by promoting hepatocyte (liver cell) proliferation. When part...

STARD1 promotes cholestatic liver injury and disease progression

Yes, STARD1 (Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein D1) plays a key role in promoting cholestatic liver injury and disease progression. Cholestatic liver diseases occur when bile acids, which are made from cholesterol, build up in the...

Intestinal Gas and its role in SIBO

Intestinal gas plays a significant role in both normal gastrointestinal function and in pathological conditions such as Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). To fully understand its implications in SIBO, it is important to first explore...

Pancreatic Acinus and Pancreatic Stellate Cells

Pancreatic Acinus and Pancreatic Stellate Cells are important components of the pancreas, which is a gland located in the abdomen. Here's a detailed explanation of both: Pancreatic Acinus: Definition: Pancreatic acini are small clusters of...

The Mesentery and Its Role in Gastroenterology

The mesentery is a vital structure within the human body, playing an essential role in the gastrointestinal (GI) system. Once thought to be a fragmented and insignificant structure, recent advancements in anatomical and clinical research...

Intraepithelial Lymphocytes (IELs) and Their Role in Gastrointestinal (GI) Conditions

Intraepithelial Lymphocytes (IELs) and Their Role in Gastrointestinal (GI) Conditions Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) are a specialized subset of immune cells that reside within the epithelial lining of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. They are strategically positioned...

Goblet Cells and Peneth Cells in Gastroenterology

Goblet Cells and Paneth Cells in Gastroenterology: An In-Depth Overview Goblet cells and Paneth cells are specialized epithelial cells that are essential for maintaining the health and functionality of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. They play...

MOGAT2 influence colorectal cancer progression through ACSM1-mediated lipid metabolic reprogramming

Monoacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 2 (MOGAT2) plays a significant role in influencing colorectal cancer (CRC) progression by regulating lipid metabolism through ACSM1 (Acyl-CoA synthetase medium-chain family member 1). In a study investigating MOGAT2’s role, researchers found that...

miR147 promotes mucosal integrity and intestinal inflammation

miR147 plays a crucial role in promoting mucosal integrity and regulating intestinal inflammation. As a protective microRNA, miR147 is specifically enriched in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), particularly in differentiated enterocytes at the luminal surface of...

Salvigenin Inhibits Gastric Cancer Progression via EGFR/PI3K/AKT-Mediated Antitumor Signaling

Yes, salvigenin inhibits gastric cancer progression by targeting the EGFR/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, which plays a critical role in tumor growth, survival, and aggressiveness. The study highlights the following key findings: Anticancer Properties of Salvigenin: Salvigenin,...

Interferon-gamma in driving crypt hyperplasia in celiac disease

Interferon-gamma plays a crucial role in driving crypt hyperplasia, a hallmark of celiac disease and other inflammatory intestinal disorders. Crypt hyperplasia refers to the abnormal elongation and proliferation of epithelial crypts in the intestinal lining,...

Hesperetin, Liver Fibrosis, Gut Microbiota and Autophagy

Hesperetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid with notable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, has shown promising effects in addressing liver fibrosis, a condition characterized by excessive scarring due to chronic liver injury. In a mouse model of...

Hypoxia-Activated CAFs Promote Lymphatic Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer via CLEC11A/LGR5-Mediated WNT Signaling.

The title "Hypoxia-Activated CAFs Promote Lymphatic Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer via CLEC11A/LGR5-Mediated WNT Signaling" succinctly encapsulates the findings of the study. Here's an in-depth explanation of the key points: Hypoxia and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs): Hypoxia,...

Impact of HMOX1 + Macrophages on Tumor Immunity and Immunotherapy Response in HCC

HMOX1-positive (HMOX1+) macrophages have a profound impact on tumor immunity and the response to immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as revealed by the study. Here is a detailed explanation of their role: HMOX1+ Macrophages and...

Lipid Metabolism Signature in NAFLD Revealed by Transcriptomic and Single-Cell RNA-Seq Analyses

The study identified key lipid metabolism-related genes (LMGs) associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using transcriptomic and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analyses. Researchers analyzed multiple datasets (GSE48452, GSE63067, GSE89632, GSE72756) alongside scRNA-seq data (GSE159977)....

Lactylation-based gene signature and gastric adenocarcinoma

Gastric adenocarcinoma (STAD) is a type of stomach cancer that accounts for 95% of gastric cancers and has poor survival rates. A recent study focused on a biological process called "lactylation," where lactate molecules attach...

Leonurine Alleviates DSS-Induced Colitis in Mice

Leonurine, an active compound derived from Leonurus japonicus, has shown significant potential in alleviating DSS-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice. The study utilized a 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) solution to induce colitis, replicating symptoms...

TREM2 Loss Drives IL-1β+ Macrophage–Mediated Inflammation and Tumor Progression in Pancreatic Cancer

TREM2, a receptor expressed on tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), plays a critical role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Researchers explored its function by genetically removing TREM2 in a transgenic mouse model (KPPC;Trem2−/−) to study PDAC progression....

Role of YAP1 in Pancreatic Cancer

Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) is a key regulator in the Hippo signaling pathway, a pathway crucial for controlling cell growth, tissue development, and organ size. In cancer, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), YAP1 becomes dysregulated,...

TL1A–DR3 Signaling and Experimental Crohn’s Disease

The TL1A–DR3 signaling pathway plays a central role in the development and progression of Crohn’s disease (CD), a chronic inflammatory condition of the intestines. Research has shown that TL1A activates DR3, a receptor that drives...

TL1A/DR3 signaling and Crohn’s disease

The TL1A/DR3 signaling pathway plays a critical role in driving Crohn’s disease-like intestinal inflammation by regulating the formation and pathogenicity of Th9 cells. Th9 cells, a subset of T helper cells, produce the proinflammatory cytokine...

KRASG12D mutant cells, pancreatic cell, and Wnt5a signaling

KRASG12D mutant cells are a type of genetically altered pancreatic cells that play a key role in pancreatic cancer development, specifically pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Normally, the pancreas has protective mechanisms to eliminate mutant cells...

cysteine-rich diet and Intestinal Regeneration- MIT study

The study conducted by researchers at MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, led by Dr. Ömer Yilmaz and postdoc Fangtao Chi, has unveiled groundbreaking insights into how a cysteine-rich diet can enhance intestinal tissue...

Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and Pancreatic Malignancy

Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and Pancreatic Malignancy Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is a fundamental biological process that plays a pivotal role in the progression of pancreatic malignancy, particularly pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)—the most common and aggressive form...

PDGFRβ and GSK3β: Fidaxomicin’s Role in Intestinal Fibroblasts

PDGFRβ and GSK3β: Key Players in Intestinal Fibrosis PDGFRβ (Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor Beta): Function: PDGFRβ is a receptor tyrosine kinase that plays a critical role in cellular signaling, particularly in fibroblast activation, proliferation, and...

Human Gut Mycobiome (Gut Fungi)

The human gut mycobiome refers to the community of fungi residing within the gastrointestinal tract. Though less studied than the bacterial microbiome, the fungal component plays a significant role in gut health, immune regulation, and...

Molecular Diagnostic Algorithm Identifying Rat Hepatitis E Virus (GEHEP-014 Study)

The GEHEP-014 Study focuses on the development and optimization of a molecular diagnostic algorithm to detect rat hepatitis E virus (ratHEV) as a potential cause of unexplained acute hepatitis. This multicenter study highlights the importance...

Oral Microbiome Dysbiosis and Precancerous Lesions of the Upper GI Tract

The study highlights the relationship between oral microbiome dysbiosis and the development of precancerous lesions in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Dysbiosis refers to an imbalance in the microbial community, and in this context, it...

Stromal Stiffness and Immune Evasion in Pancreatic Cancer

Stromal stiffness plays a critical role in promoting immune evasion in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The study highlights a mechanistic link between the tumor microenvironment, particularly stromal stiffness, and immune resistance through an epigenetic-metabolic pathway....

Peripheral Blood DNA Methylation Signatures to Predict Biologic Response in Crohn’s Disease (EPIC-CD)

The EPIC-CD study (Peripheral Blood DNA Methylation Signatures to Predict Biologic Response in Crohn’s Disease) investigated the potential of using baseline DNA methylation profiles in peripheral blood to predict how patients with Crohn's disease would...

Cendakimab in Adults and Adolescents with Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Cendakimab, an interleukin-13 (IL-13)–blocking monoclonal antibody, has shown promising results in the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in adults and adolescents. EoE is a chronic, immune-mediated condition characterized by inflammation of the esophagus, leading to...