Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2022 Aug 1;323(2):C306-C321. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00166.2022. Epub 2022 Jun 8.
The circadian clock is a self-sustained molecular timekeeper that drives 24-h (circadian) rhythms in animals. The clock governs important aspects of behavior and physiology including wake/sleep activity cycles that regulate the activity of metabolic and digestive systems. Light/dark cycles (photoperiod) and cycles in the time of feeding synchronize the circadian clock to the surrounding environment, providing an anticipatory benefit that promotes digestive health. The availability of animal models targeting the genetic components of the circadian clock has made it possible to investigate the circadian clock's role in cellular functions. Circadian clock genes have been shown to regulate the physiological function of hepatocytes, gastrointestinal cells, and adipocytes; disruption of the circadian clock leads to the exacerbation of liver diseases and liver cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer, and obesity. Previous findings provide strong evidence that the circadian clock plays an integral role in digestive/metabolic disease pathogenesis, hence, the circadian clock is a necessary component in metabolic and digestive health and homeostasis. Circadian rhythms and circadian clock function provide an opportunity to improve the prevention and treatment of digestive and metabolic diseases by aligning digestive system tissue with the 24-h day.
生物钟是一种自我维持的分子计时器，它驱动着动物 24 小时（昼夜）的节律。时钟控制着行为和生理的重要方面，包括睡眠/觉醒活动周期，调节代谢和消化系统的活动。光/暗周期（光周期）和进食时间的周期使生物钟与周围环境同步，提供了一种预期的益处，促进了消化健康。针对生物钟遗传成分的动物模型的可用性，使得研究生物钟在细胞功能中的作用成为可能。已经表明，生物钟基因调节肝细胞、胃肠道细胞和脂肪细胞的生理功能；生物钟的破坏会导致肝病和肝癌、炎症性肠病和结直肠癌以及肥胖症的恶化。先前的研究结果提供了强有力的证据，表明生物钟在消化/代谢疾病的发病机制中起着不可或缺的作用，因此，生物钟是代谢和消化健康及稳态的必要组成部分。昼夜节律和生物钟功能为通过将消化系统组织与 24 小时周期对齐来改善消化和代谢疾病的预防和治疗提供了机会。
