Exploring Inter-Organ Crosstalk Beyond the Classical Endocrine Signaling in Adult Health and Disease

The concept of inter-organ crosstalk, notably highlighted since the Nobel Prize-winning work on the Cori cycle in 1947, has significantly shaped our understanding of physiological homeostasis and disease pathology. This area of research investigates how organs communicate via an array of mediators such as hormones, metabolites, cytokines, and exosomes. These mediators operate across autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine landscapes to maintain or alter the functional dynamics between organs. This communication underpins critical physiological networks such as the gut-brain axis and the musculoskeletal system and plays pivotal roles in the progression of widespread diseases including diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular ailments.

This Research Topic aims to deepen the understanding of the regulatory mechanisms governing inter-organ communication in both healthy and pathological states. By uncovering the complexities of these communications, the collection seeks to address the current gap in therapies targeting detrimental inter-organ dependencies and consequent secondary organ failures. Focusing on both traditional and uncovering potential novel crosstalk mechanisms, the studies are expected to reveal intricate details of such interactions, aiding in the development of targeted medical interventions.

To gather further insights in inter-organ communication, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Uncover novel patterns of inter-organ crosstalk by exploring communication pathways of classical endocrine signaling (such as thyroid hormones, insulin, glucagon, growth factor, etc.) versus any new molecules (such as hepatokines, myokines, adipokines and metabolic intermediates) revealing alternative mechanisms;
• Leverage advanced technologies by using cutting-edge tools, including both omics and non-omics approaches, to investigate interorgan communication in various model systems (in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo);
• Clarify the molecular basis of "remote reconditioning" by exploring why and how injury to one organ leads to secondary responses in other tissues, aiming to understand the molecular underpinnings of this phenomenon.

Submissions can range from original research papers to detailed reviews and concise mini-reviews, enhancing the breadth of the collection. Even though abstract submission is not mandatory, we encourage all interested researchers to submit a manuscript summary before submitting their manuscript. These short abstract-like summaries do not have to coincide with the final abstract of the manuscripts. Their purpose is to serve as a summary for the article you plan to submit.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: physiology, inter-organ crosstalk, molecular mediators, crosstalk mechanisms, pathological conditions, advanced technologies

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.