Editorial: Inflammation and Fibrosis in the Gastrointestinal Tract and Liver: Mechanisms and Targets

Inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and liver can be caused by a variety of factors including genetic diseases, immune mediated conditions, environmentally induced reactions, toxic exposure, tissue injury, abnormalities in the gut-liver axis, and general infectious diseases. The consequence of inflammation is wound healing following fibrous tissue repair and regeneration. Although it occurs in all organs, each organ shows a specific pattern of reactivity. In this Research Topic, leading experts from the field of Gastroenterology and Hepatology share new findings and current concepts in the pathogenesis and management of inflammation and fibrosis in the gastrointestinal tract and liver. In total about 200 basic scientists and clinicians from eight countries (China, Egypt, Germany, India, Japan, Spain, Italy, and USA) contributed 28 originals or review articles about current perspectives and findings in corresponding diseases. These articles cover a wide range of aspects in the pathogenesis of liver inflammation and fibrosis, gastrointestinal disease, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The contributions show that these fascinating fields have made conceptual advances that in the near future will hopefully lead to novel treatment options.