Proteomics at the interface of psychology, gut physiology and dysfunction: an underexploited approach that deserves expansion

Abstract

Gut functions such as digestion and absorption are essential to life and the emerging insights into the gut–brain axis – that is, the cross talk between the enteric and CNS – point towards critical links between (eating) behavior, psychology, whole body and gut physiology, and digestive and overall health. While proteomics is ideally positioned to shed more light on these interactions, be it applied to the periphery (e.g., blood) or the locus of action (i.e., the gut), it is to date largely underexploited, mainly because of challenging sampling and tissue complexity. In view of the contrast between potential and current delivery of proteomics in the context of intestinal health, this article briefs the reader on the state-of-the-art of molecular intestinal research, reviews current proteomic studies (explicitly focusing on the most recent ones that target inflammatory bowel disease patient samples) and argues for an expansion of this research field.

Keywords::

• biomarker
• CNS
• Crohn’s
• ENS
• gut
• gut–brain axis
• IBD
• IBS
• inflammation
• nutrition
• proteomics

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Martin Kussmann is an employee of the Nestlé Health Science Institute. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.