Gut-Liver-Brain Axis Research to Improve Metabolic Health "GLoBAL"
(腸肝脳相関研究プロジェクト）

●  Overview； Investigation of Gut-Liver-Brain Axis in severe obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery（～n=150) with extensive characterization of tissue biopsies and systems biology. Extensive neuroimaging (MRI), cognition tests, plasma and microbiota analysis over time (pre-operation, hospitalization and post-operation).

●  Readout and Samples；
 > Brain; Cognition, Behaviour test, Brain fMRI scan
 > Samples (n=500)
  > Tissue; Liver, Adipose tissue, Jejunam.
  > Plasma; Lipidomics, Adipokine, Hepatokines, Bile acids, etc.
  > Microbiota; Feces, Mucosal swab; Stomach, Jejunam

●  Tests conducted；
 > NeuroPhysiological test; MoCA, COWAT, IQ, Working memory, Episodic memory, TAP.
 > Behaviour; Scores of Impulsivity, Motivation, Depression, GI complaint, etc
 > GI complaints (e.g. GSRS and IBS-SSS scores) to evaluate diarrhea, obstipation and others

●  Invitation to analyse specific health aspect using the samples in stock as the followings;
  > Liver (histology, transcriptomics)
  > Visceral adipose tissues
  > Jejunum, gut permeability
  > Mucosal & feces microbiota
  > Plasma
  > SCFA, amino acids, lipids, bile acids, Vitamins, etc

●  Opportunities to assess relation between MB and Brain
  > Choose interaction of interest (e.g. microbiota to long-term memory, or gut permeability to cognition tests)
  > Use available data or eventually measure additional parameters
  > Check for correlations or associations
  > Identify critical body parameters that correlate with brain health

Publication:
  □   The long-term effect of metabolic bariatric surgery on innate immune cell phenotype and function　Int J Obes Aug 2025.
van Tuijl J, Vreeken D, Broeders W, Cossins B, van Emst L, Seidel F, Stienstra R, Li Y, Joosten LAB, Netea MG, Hazebroek EJ, Kleemann R, Kiliaan AJ, Bekkering S, Riksen NP.

  □   Gastrointestinal complaints after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. Impact of microbiota and its metabolites.　Helyon Nov, 2024.
Emma Custers, Yonta G.R. van der Burgh, Debby Vreeken, Frank Schuren, Tim J. van den Broek, Lars Verschuren, Ivo de Blaauw, Mark Bouwens, Robert Kleemann, Amanda J. Kiliaan, Eric J. Hazebroek.