Recent advances in targeting obesity, with a focus on TGF-β signaling and vagus nerve innervation
Abstract Over a third of the global population is affected by obesity, fatty liver disease (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease, MASLD), and its severe form, MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis), which can ultimately progress to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Bioelectronic Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s42234-025-00172-x |
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| author | Sahara John Krishanu Bhowmick Andrew Park Hai Huang Xiaochun Yang Lopa Mishra |
| author_facet | Sahara John Krishanu Bhowmick Andrew Park Hai Huang Xiaochun Yang Lopa Mishra |
| author_sort | Sahara John |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Over a third of the global population is affected by obesity, fatty liver disease (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease, MASLD), and its severe form, MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis), which can ultimately progress to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recent advancements include therapeutics such as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists and neural/vagal modulation strategies for these disorders. Among the many pathways regulating these conditions, emerging insights into transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling highlight potential future targets through its role in pathophysiological processes such as adipogenesis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Vagus nerve innervation in the gastrointestinal tract is involved in satiety regulation and energy homeostasis, and vagus nerve stimulation has been applied in weight loss and diabetes. This review explores clinical trials in obesity, novel therapeutic targets, and the role of TGF-β signaling and vagus nerve modulation in obesity-related liver diseases and HCC. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e8e6d8ac24e84c6e9434dafff1cb16c9 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2332-8886 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Bioelectronic Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-e8e6d8ac24e84c6e9434dafff1cb16c92025-08-20T02:10:50ZengBMCBioelectronic Medicine2332-88862025-04-0111112110.1186/s42234-025-00172-xRecent advances in targeting obesity, with a focus on TGF-β signaling and vagus nerve innervationSahara John0Krishanu Bhowmick1Andrew Park2Hai Huang3Xiaochun Yang4Lopa Mishra5Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, Divisions of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell HealthInstitute for Bioelectronic Medicine, Divisions of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell HealthInstitute for Bioelectronic Medicine, Divisions of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell HealthFeinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell HealthInstitute for Bioelectronic Medicine, Divisions of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell HealthInstitute for Bioelectronic Medicine, Divisions of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell HealthAbstract Over a third of the global population is affected by obesity, fatty liver disease (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease, MASLD), and its severe form, MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis), which can ultimately progress to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recent advancements include therapeutics such as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists and neural/vagal modulation strategies for these disorders. Among the many pathways regulating these conditions, emerging insights into transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling highlight potential future targets through its role in pathophysiological processes such as adipogenesis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Vagus nerve innervation in the gastrointestinal tract is involved in satiety regulation and energy homeostasis, and vagus nerve stimulation has been applied in weight loss and diabetes. This review explores clinical trials in obesity, novel therapeutic targets, and the role of TGF-β signaling and vagus nerve modulation in obesity-related liver diseases and HCC.https://doi.org/10.1186/s42234-025-00172-xObesityTGF-βLiver diseaseCancerVagus nerve stimulation |
| spellingShingle | Sahara John Krishanu Bhowmick Andrew Park Hai Huang Xiaochun Yang Lopa Mishra Recent advances in targeting obesity, with a focus on TGF-β signaling and vagus nerve innervation Bioelectronic Medicine Obesity TGF-β Liver disease Cancer Vagus nerve stimulation |
| title | Recent advances in targeting obesity, with a focus on TGF-β signaling and vagus nerve innervation |
| title_full | Recent advances in targeting obesity, with a focus on TGF-β signaling and vagus nerve innervation |
| title_fullStr | Recent advances in targeting obesity, with a focus on TGF-β signaling and vagus nerve innervation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recent advances in targeting obesity, with a focus on TGF-β signaling and vagus nerve innervation |
| title_short | Recent advances in targeting obesity, with a focus on TGF-β signaling and vagus nerve innervation |
| title_sort | recent advances in targeting obesity with a focus on tgf β signaling and vagus nerve innervation |
| topic | Obesity TGF-β Liver disease Cancer Vagus nerve stimulation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s42234-025-00172-x |
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