Reviews & Analysis

The year 2022 was notable for substantial research progress related to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The first single-cell and spatial transcriptomic atlases of PDAC were reported, a mechanism for how Schwann cells promote perineural invasion was explored, and, finally, the role of exercise in abrogating immunosuppression was shown.

Various pathways enable communication between the gut and brain, and this communication influences physiology and behaviour. Studies published in 2022 demonstrate how our understanding of several of these pathways is advancing rapidly.

In 2022, we witnessed advances in the field of alcohol-related liver disease. Key developments included the discovery of novel proteomics-based biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets that regulate the recognition of molecules derived from gut microbiota to modulate liver injury. Additionally, there have been significant advances in refining selection for liver transplantation in severe alcohol-associated hepatitis.

2022 was a proficuous year in both the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obesity fields. Pharmacological treatment for obesity and NAFLD is moving forward, with the possibility of replacing bariatric surgery, artificial intelligence might help us access the histological effects of new drugs, and there were advances in personalized hepatocellular carcinoma screening in patients with NAFLD.

Key studies published in 2022 further established the importance of alterations in the gut microenvironment and interactions with the enteric and central nervous systems in symptom generation in irritable bowel syndrome and suggested novel and clinically accessible therapeutic approaches for this large group of patients.