Digestive disorders including pancreatitis, fatty pancreas and gallstone disease represent major global health burdens with complex etiology involving metabolic dysregulation, genetic predisposition and structural abnormalities. Emerging evidence suggests these conditions arise from interactions between genetic variants, molecular biomarkers (serum metabolites, pancreatic proteomics) and pancreatic morphological changes visible through imaging. However, comprehensive understanding of these relationships remains limited, hindering early diagnosis and targeted treatment.
This study will address three key objectives: First, we will identify genetic variants and multi-omics biomarkers (plasma metabolites, pancreatic proteome profiles, gut microbiome) associated with pancreatic imaging phenotypes (fat deposition, fibrosis, ductal changes) using UK Biobank’s multimodal data. Second, we will integrate metabolomic, proteomic and genomic data to elucidate mechanistic pathways, particularly focusing on lipid metabolism, inflammatory cascades and pancreatic exocrine dysfunction. Third, we will examine psychosomatic interactions by analyzing stress-related biomarkers (cortisol, inflammatory markers) and their association with disease progression.
Our innovative approach bridges molecular-level risk factors with macroscopic pancreatic changes, offering new insights into disease mechanisms. The research will advance precision medicine for digestive disorders by developing: (1) Early detection algorithms combining genetic risk and metabolic profiles; (2) Novel stratification systems based on multi-omics signatures; (3) Psychosomatic intervention strategies targeting stress-related disease exacerbation.
