Gut maturation during normal development involves a series of structural and functional changes that culminate during the weaning period when complex (solid) food is introduced. These changes affect secretion, absorption and barrier properties, motility, nervous and hormonal regulation, as well as local immunity. Despite being considered as a pre-programmed process during ontogeny, the mechanisms and regulating factors involved in the gut maturation process have not yet been fully defined. It has been shown that gut maturation can be induced precociously by i.e. early weaning, the enteral administration of dietary components including polyamines or lectins (e.g. phytohaemagglutinin), as well as by hormonal administration of e.g. exogenous corticosteroids and thyroxin.
Previous studies, using birds and suckling animals as the object of the studies and models for human beings, provide us with evidence that postnatal gut maturation, which occurs naturally at weaning or precociously when induced by enteral provocation, is initiated by luminal cues affecting the intestinal epithelium and activation of pancreatic function and the immune system. The comparison of gut maturation processes in different species, such as rodents and ungulates, could assist in identifying pathways that are conserved across species, as well as those which are more species-specific. Thus enabling us to identify elements that are more genetically hard-wired from those that are more subject to environmental regulation, and thus can be manipulated in order to improve gut maturation.
This Research Topic will contribute to an increased understanding of the initiating cues and the mechanisms involved in the maturation of the gut in mammals. This knowledge could be applied in translational studies to improve strategies for the prevention or treatment of gut-related complications arising in preterm infants.
Our goal is to provide an updated overview of the progress in our knowledge in the regulation of the maturation of the gut and how this can be induced precociously or delayed by environmental and dietary intervention. Original Research and Review articles, including in vitro, organoid, animal, as well as clinical studies on the following subtopics are particularly welcome:
1) Exogenous dietary factors affecting gut maturation
2) Endogenous (host) factors e.g., enzymes affecting maturation of the gut epithelium
3) Milk factors and milk processing (pasteurization) affecting gut maturation
4) Inborn – programmed gut maturation
5) Role of the microbiome in the gut maturation
6) Gut maturation and nutrition of preterm infants – animal models
7) Integration of gut function with blood glucose homeostasis
Gut maturation during normal development involves a series of structural and functional changes that culminate during the weaning period when complex (solid) food is introduced. These changes affect secretion, absorption and barrier properties, motility, nervous and hormonal regulation, as well as local immunity. Despite being considered as a pre-programmed process during ontogeny, the mechanisms and regulating factors involved in the gut maturation process have not yet been fully defined. It has been shown that gut maturation can be induced precociously by i.e. early weaning, the enteral administration of dietary components including polyamines or lectins (e.g. phytohaemagglutinin), as well as by hormonal administration of e.g. exogenous corticosteroids and thyroxin.
Previous studies, using birds and suckling animals as the object of the studies and models for human beings, provide us with evidence that postnatal gut maturation, which occurs naturally at weaning or precociously when induced by enteral provocation, is initiated by luminal cues affecting the intestinal epithelium and activation of pancreatic function and the immune system. The comparison of gut maturation processes in different species, such as rodents and ungulates, could assist in identifying pathways that are conserved across species, as well as those which are more species-specific. Thus enabling us to identify elements that are more genetically hard-wired from those that are more subject to environmental regulation, and thus can be manipulated in order to improve gut maturation.
This Research Topic will contribute to an increased understanding of the initiating cues and the mechanisms involved in the maturation of the gut in mammals. This knowledge could be applied in translational studies to improve strategies for the prevention or treatment of gut-related complications arising in preterm infants.
Our goal is to provide an updated overview of the progress in our knowledge in the regulation of the maturation of the gut and how this can be induced precociously or delayed by environmental and dietary intervention. Original Research and Review articles, including in vitro, organoid, animal, as well as clinical studies on the following subtopics are particularly welcome:
1) Exogenous dietary factors affecting gut maturation
2) Endogenous (host) factors e.g., enzymes affecting maturation of the gut epithelium
3) Milk factors and milk processing (pasteurization) affecting gut maturation
4) Inborn – programmed gut maturation
5) Role of the microbiome in the gut maturation
6) Gut maturation and nutrition of preterm infants – animal models
7) Integration of gut function with blood glucose homeostasis
