Paradoxical nutrient hyperabsorption despite diarrhea: Insights from jejunal transcriptomic reanalysis in Linghu's...

The transcriptomic changes in the jejunum involved in Linghu's obesity-diarrhea syndrome (ODS) are revealed in the previous study. In the present study, we performed a reanalysis of differentially expressed genes related to nutrient absorption from this dataset and found that gene sets involved in the digestion and absorption of three major nutrients - fats, carbohydrates, and proteins - were predominantly upregulated in the jejunal epithelium of patients with ODS. These changes specifically pertain to fat digestion and absorption, carbohydrate uptake and transport, and protein catabolism. These findings suggest that the jejunum of patients with ODS may exhibit a unique state of "diarrhea-hyperabsorption". In this article, we provide an in-depth discussion of this phenomenon and propose hypotheses, aiming to offer insights for the study of the pathological mechanisms underlying ODS and its clinical management.