Gut-organ axes in health and disease

The aim of this network initiative is to exploit our collective interest and complementary expertise to enhance insight in the pathophysiological mechanisms of disorders, including Helicobacter-related gastric diseases, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), coeliac disease, intestinal ischemia, functional gastrointestinal disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cirrhosis and chronic kidney disease (CKD), which we hypothesize to have common ground in the GI tract. We will investigate key areas of uncertainty regarding the exact role of intestinal barrier function (the microbiome, the epithelial barrier and the mucosal immune system) in the different gut-organ-axes and associated pathologies. Specifically, in the next 5 years we aim to gain in depth understanding in: 1) the cellular and molecular mechanisms that act within the gut wall (mucosal mediators, mucosal immune system, enteric nervous system) and signal from the gut lumen (microbiome and metabolites) to regulate intestinal barrier function. 2) how changes in the intestinal barrier affect communication from the gut to other organs via neuronal, metabolic, endocrine and immunological pathways. 3) how (patho-)physiological mechanisms at the level of the organs (e.g. psychobiological processes in the brain) interfere with intestinal barrier function through organ-gut (i.e. efferent) signaling mechanisms.

Keywords:GASTROINTESTINAL PATHOLOGIES, INFLAMMATION, IMMUNOLOGY

Disciplines:Gastro-enterology, Inflammation, Microbiome, Cell signalling

Project type:Collaboration project