Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain
the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in
Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles
and JavaScript.
The pathophysiology of IBS is poorly understood. Epidemiological studies point to risk factors such as familial clustering, sexual abuse and other forms of childhood trauma, low birth weight and gastrointestinal infection. Epigenetics focuses on the interaction between DNA sequence, DNA modifications and environmental factors to produce a phenotype. In this Perspective, Dinan and colleagues present an epigenetic model of IBS. Applying epigenetic methodology to IBS may help unravel its pathophysiology and lead to more effective treatments.
A range of treatments for hepatic fibrosis are currently in the development process. However, the single greatest limitation in bringing these therapies to the clinical setting is a lack of sufficient methodology for assessing their pharmacological effects. This Perspectives article highlights the potential for novel and existing biomarkers to act as treatment end points in clinical trials of new drugs for hepatic fibrosis.
