Inflammation and Fibrosis in Digestive Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Inflammation and fibrosis are associated with the development and progression of immune-mediated digestive diseases, such as various kinds of hepatitis, liver fibrosis, inflammatory bowel diseases, reflux esophagitis, as well as liver and intestinal tumorigenesis. These digestive diseases are becoming a heavy burden worldwide, and therefore, a better understanding of pathogenesis and the identification of novel treatment strategies are urgently needed. Recent studies have proposed that several factors in the process of triggering and resolutions of inflammation and fibrosis are potential new therapeutic targets. However, the underlying mechanisms involved in the crosstalk between inflammation and fibrosis with digestive disease pathogenesis are far from clear. In this Special Issue, we focus on the inflammation and fibrosis aspect of pathogenesis mechanisms and treating digestive diseases. Both original research and review articles on clinical or basic studies are welcome.

The specific areas include:

(1) The roles of inflammation and fibrosis in the initiation, progression, and treatment of digestive diseases;

(2) Crosstalk between inflammation and fibrosis in the pathogenesis process of digestive diseases;

(3) Novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for anti-inflammation or anti-fibrosis therapy for digestive diseases;

(4) New therapeutic strategies of the combination of inflammation and fibrosis resolution in digestive disease treatment.

Prof. Dr. Xingxin Wu
Dr. Toshimi Chiba
Dr. Jie Yan
Dr. Emanuele Sinagra
Topic Editors