Biological clocks and the digestive system
Open accessAbstract
Circadian rhythms play a major role in regulating the digestive systems of many organisms. Cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and even structure vary as a function of time of day in many different digestive organs (i.e., stomach, gut, liver, and pancreas) and cell types, resulting in regionally specific temporal variations in protein and gene expression. Feeding and light set the hands of the digestive clock(s). However, the clockwork has a genetic basis. During the last 10 years, new developments have emerged in our understanding of how cells keep time. Surprisingly, clock genes in mammals are expressed not only in specialized time keepers in the brain, but also in peripheral organs, suggesting that the ability to keep time may also belong to cells within the digestive system. This article reviews several classic examples of circadian variation in the digestive system, with an emphasis on rhythms in cell proliferation, function, and structure. It also briefly summarizes several new ideas about how cells in the brain and possibly the digestive system keep time.
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Metabolic syndrome and diabetes risk may be further increased by eating and digestion being out of sync with peripheral oscillators in the liver and gut.
“Metabolic syndrome and diabetes risk may be further increased by the timing of eating and food digestion being out of sync with peripheral oscillators in the liver [34] and gut [35].”
From Shift Work: Disrupted Circadian Rhythms and Sleep—Implications for Health and Well-being (2017) · cites this paper as [35]
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References 97 · Cited by 130
Research works printed but not linked: 5
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- Authors
- Scheving, L. A.
- Affiliations
- Vanderbilt University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Scheving, Lawrence A.
- Venue
- Gastroenterology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2000-08
- Volume
- 119
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 536-549
- ISSN
- 0016-5085 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2066357452
- Cited by
- 130
- References
- 97
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 0.32
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Gastroenterology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (5r01dk045925-03)
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (DK-45925)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Digestive system and related health
- Keywords
- circadian rhythm, biological clock, clock genes, digestive system, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, cell migration, temporal gene expression, feeding rhythm, light entrainment, stomach, intestine, liver, pancreas
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Biological Clocks, Digestive System, Digestive System Physiological Phenomena, Humans
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