Circadian rhythms and inflammatory diseases of the liver and gut

Circadian rhythms play a central role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis and orchestrating inter-organ crosstalk. Research evidence indicates that disruption to rhythms, which occurs through shift work, chronic sleep disruption, molecular clock polymorphisms, or the consumption of alcohol or high-fat diets, can influence inflammatory status and disrupt timing between the brain and periphery or between the body and the external environment. Within the liver and gut, circadian rhythms direct the timing of glucose and lipid homeostasis, bile acid and xenobiotic metabolism, and nutrient absorption, making these systems particularly susceptible to the effects of disrupted rhythms. In this review, the impacts of circadian disruption will be discussed with emphasis on inflammatory conditions affecting the liver and gut, and the potential for chronotherapy for these conditions will be explored.