Potential bidirectional communication between the liver and the central circadian clock in MASLD

Frédéric Gachon; Elisabetta Bugianesi; Gabriele Castelnuovo; Henrik Oster; Julie S. Pendergast; Sara Montagnese

doi:10.1038/s44324-025-00058-1

Potential bidirectional communication between the liver and the central circadian clock in MASLD

Frédéric Gachon^*, Elisabetta Bugianesi, Gabriele Castelnuovo, Henrik Oster, Julie S. Pendergast, Sara Montagnese^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Most aspects of physiology and behaviour fluctuate every 24 h in mammals. These circadian rhythms are orchestrated by an autonomous central clock located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei that coordinates the timing of cellular clocks in tissues throughout the body. The critical role of this circadian system is emphasized by increasing evidence associating disruption of circadian rhythms with diverse pathologies. Accordingly, mounting evidence suggests a bidirectional relationship where disruption of rhythms by circadian misalignment may contribute to liver diseases while liver diseases alter the central clock and circadian rhythms in other tissues. Therefore, liver pathophysiology may broadly impact the circadian system and may provide a mechanistic framework for understanding and targeting metabolic diseases and adjust metabolic setpoints.

Original language	English
Article number	15
Journal	NPJ Metabolic Health and Disease
Volume	3
Issue number	1
ISSN	2948-2828
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s44324-025-00058-1
Publication status	Published - 12.2025

Funding

Funders	Funder number
National Institutes of Health	R01DK124774, R01AG078241
Novo Nordisk Fonden	0087882
NextGenerationEU	2022N2KJAM, CUP E53D23013280006, 2022L273C9
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft	CRC 296 LocoTact-TP13
National Health and Medical Research Council	2019260
Horizon 2020	847949
National Science Foundation	IOS-2045267

Research Areas and Centers

Academic Focus: Center for Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM)

DFG Research Classification Scheme

2.22-17 Endocrinology, Diabetology, Metabolism
2.11-03 Cell Biology
2.23-04 Cognitive, Systems and Behavioural Neurobiology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1038/s44324-025-00058-1

Cite this

@article{dad3851630824ae9bb3b42801574db8d,

title = "Potential bidirectional communication between the liver and the central circadian clock in MASLD",

abstract = "Most aspects of physiology and behaviour fluctuate every 24 h in mammals. These circadian rhythms are orchestrated by an autonomous central clock located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei that coordinates the timing of cellular clocks in tissues throughout the body. The critical role of this circadian system is emphasized by increasing evidence associating disruption of circadian rhythms with diverse pathologies. Accordingly, mounting evidence suggests a bidirectional relationship where disruption of rhythms by circadian misalignment may contribute to liver diseases while liver diseases alter the central clock and circadian rhythms in other tissues. Therefore, liver pathophysiology may broadly impact the circadian system and may provide a mechanistic framework for understanding and targeting metabolic diseases and adjust metabolic setpoints.",

author = "Fr{\'e}d{\'e}ric Gachon and Elisabetta Bugianesi and Gabriele Castelnuovo and Henrik Oster and Pendergast, \{Julie S.\} and Sara Montagnese",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",

year = "2025",

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doi = "10.1038/s44324-025-00058-1",

language = "English",

volume = "3",

journal = "NPJ Metabolic Health and Disease",

issn = "2948-2828",

publisher = "Springer Nature",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Potential bidirectional communication between the liver and the central circadian clock in MASLD

AU - Gachon, Frédéric

AU - Bugianesi, Elisabetta

AU - Castelnuovo, Gabriele

AU - Oster, Henrik

AU - Pendergast, Julie S.

AU - Montagnese, Sara

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - Most aspects of physiology and behaviour fluctuate every 24 h in mammals. These circadian rhythms are orchestrated by an autonomous central clock located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei that coordinates the timing of cellular clocks in tissues throughout the body. The critical role of this circadian system is emphasized by increasing evidence associating disruption of circadian rhythms with diverse pathologies. Accordingly, mounting evidence suggests a bidirectional relationship where disruption of rhythms by circadian misalignment may contribute to liver diseases while liver diseases alter the central clock and circadian rhythms in other tissues. Therefore, liver pathophysiology may broadly impact the circadian system and may provide a mechanistic framework for understanding and targeting metabolic diseases and adjust metabolic setpoints.

AB - Most aspects of physiology and behaviour fluctuate every 24 h in mammals. These circadian rhythms are orchestrated by an autonomous central clock located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei that coordinates the timing of cellular clocks in tissues throughout the body. The critical role of this circadian system is emphasized by increasing evidence associating disruption of circadian rhythms with diverse pathologies. Accordingly, mounting evidence suggests a bidirectional relationship where disruption of rhythms by circadian misalignment may contribute to liver diseases while liver diseases alter the central clock and circadian rhythms in other tissues. Therefore, liver pathophysiology may broadly impact the circadian system and may provide a mechanistic framework for understanding and targeting metabolic diseases and adjust metabolic setpoints.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105010890215

U2 - 10.1038/s44324-025-00058-1

DO - 10.1038/s44324-025-00058-1

M3 - Scientific review articles

AN - SCOPUS:105010890215

SN - 2948-2828

VL - 3

JO - NPJ Metabolic Health and Disease

JF - NPJ Metabolic Health and Disease

IS - 1

M1 - 15

ER -

Potential bidirectional communication between the liver and the central circadian clock in MASLD

Abstract

Funding

Research Areas and Centers

DFG Research Classification Scheme

UN SDGs

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CRC/TRR 296 LocoTact: Local control of TH action

Cite this

Potential bidirectional communication between the liver and the central circadian clock in MASLD

Abstract

Funding

Research Areas and Centers

DFG Research Classification Scheme

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

CRC/TRR 296 LocoTact: Local control of TH action

Cite this