Review Articles in 2022

In this Review, Cowardin, Moore and colleagues discuss advances in our understanding of environmental enteric dysfunction in the context of intestinal adaptation and the gut microbiome during pregnancy, lactation and early childhood.

This Review discusses the current and emerging therapeutic landscape for treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, including molecular-targeted monotherapies, immuno-oncology monotherapies, combination therapies and novel therapeutic approaches.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is closely associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and potentially provides unique insights into the gut–liver axis. This Review explores these links and provides an overview of the gut microbiome in PSC, including PSC–IBD, exploring related hypotheses of disease mechanisms.

Gastric and gastro-oesophageal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide with a poor prognosis. This Review provides a comprehensive overview of current treatment strategies set on a molecular basis, and discusses future therapeutic avenues.

Pruritus in cholestatic liver diseases is a frequent symptom that impairs quality of life. This Review describes the mechanisms underlying cholestasis-associated itch, discusses potential pruritogens, and highlights therapeutic approaches to manage pruritus in various conditions, including primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

The use of antibiotics affects the gut microbiota. Fenneman and colleagues discuss the role of antibiotics in the epidemiology and pathogenesis of several inflammatory conditions that involve the digestive tract: types 1 and 2 diabetes, eosinophilic oesophagitis, coeliac disease and inflammatory bowel disease.

Global alcohol consumption has increased in the past two decades and is projected to increase further. In this Review, Loomba and colleagues discuss the global epidemiology of alcohol-associated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, including risk factors, trends and projections.

Eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the oesophagus with distinct clinicopathological features and a relationship to other atopic diseases. This Review provides an updated overview of the pathogenesis and clinical management of EoE and discusses treatment options.

There are limited available treatment options for the management of abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This Review provides an overview of the gastrointestinal endocannabinoid system and its potential as a therapeutic target for the treatment of pain in IBS.

Mucus, produced by goblet cells, provides the intestinal tract with an additional layer of protection. This Review discusses the role of mucus and goblet cells in intestinal health and disease, and dissects the underlying regulatory mechanisms.

The influence of nerves on cancer is beginning to be understood. This Review discusses emerging insights into the role of the nervous system in gastrointestinal cancer and of nerves as components of the tumour microenvironment, highlighting underlying mechanisms and its potential as a therapeutic target.

Genetic predisposition contributes to disease pathophysiology in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This Review provides a comprehensive overview of genetic research in IBS and discusses new concepts in IBS genetics.

Intestinal immune cell trafficking contributes to the pathogenesis of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). This Review discusses the underlying immune cell trafficking mechanisms along the gut–liver, gut–joint and gut–brain axes and provides an overview of their implications for treatment options in IMIDs.

Experimental and clinical evidence supports a role of metabolic perturbation in the development of gut inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This Review discusses the role of diet and metabolic inflammation in IBD, outlining key concepts and highlighting the links between metabolism and inflammation in IBD.

Here, the authors provide an overview of benign liver tumours (hepatic haemangioma, focal nodular hyperplasia and hepatocellular adenoma), including pathogenesis, diagnosis and management. Insights into how molecular physiology could inform clinical practice are also highlighted.

In this Review, Jess and colleagues describe the prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, the mechanisms underlying the bidirectional association between these diseases and the effect of treatment on their co-occurrence.

Metabolic (dysfunction)-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a chronic liver disease typically associated with obesity. This Review discusses the epidemiology and physiology of individuals of normal weight with MAFLD and provides insights into their metabolic health and metabolic adaptation.

Surveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most lethal solid cancers globally, is insensitive for the detection of early-stage tumours. In this Review, the authors discuss HCC biomarkers that can improve early diagnosis, therapy monitoring and prediction of therapy response.

In this Review, Souza and Spechler describe the mechanisms, pathophysiology and cells of origin of Barrett oesophagus, a precursor of oesophageal adenocarcinoma, and discuss the clinical implications.

This Review covers the discovery of Akkermansia muciniphila and its association with health and disease, including metabolic diseases. Insights into underlying mechanisms for how A. muciniphila improves health are given as are comparisons with other next-generation beneficial microorganisms.