Beyond circadian rhythms: Emerging roles of ultradian rhythms in control of liver functions

Gad Asher, Bokai Zhu

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

The mammalian liver must cope with various metabolic and physiological changes that normally recur every day and primarily stem from daily cycles of rest-activity and fasting-feeding. Although a large body of evidence supports the reciprocal regulation of circadian rhythms and liver function, the research on the hepatic ultradian rhythms have largely been lagging behind. However, with the advent of more cost-effective high-throughput omics technologies, high-resolution time-lapse imaging, and more robust and powerful mathematical tools, several recent studies have shed new light on the presence and functions of hepatic ultradian rhythms. In this review, we will first very briefly discuss the basic principles of circadian rhythms, and then cover in greater details the recent literature related to ultradian rhythms. Specifically, we will highlight the prevalence and mechanisms of hepatic 12-h rhythms, and 8-h rhythms, which cycle at the second and third harmonics of circadian frequency. Finally, we also refer to ultradian rhythms with other frequencies and examine the limitations of the current approaches as well as the challenges related to identifying ultradian rhythm and addressing their molecular underpinnings.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1022-1035
Number of pages14
JournalHepatology
Volume77
Issue number3
Early online date19 May 2022
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2023

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Hepatology

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