Zhang P, Liu SM. Letter to the Editor: Decoding pediatric-adult divergence in inflammatory bowel disease via multi-omics integration. World J Gastroenterol 2026; 32(24): 116779 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v32.i24.116779]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Peng Zhang, PhD, Medical Basic Experiment Teaching Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, No. 44 Wenhua Xi Road, Lixia District, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China. zhangpeng1990@sdu.edu.cn
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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letter
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Zhang P, Liu SM. Letter to the Editor: Decoding pediatric-adult divergence in inflammatory bowel disease via multi-omics integration. World J Gastroenterol 2026; 32(24): 116779 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v32.i24.116779]
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 28, 2026; 32(24): 116779 Published online Jun 28, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v32.i24.116779
Letter to the Editor: Decoding pediatric-adult divergence in inflammatory bowel disease via multi-omics integration
Peng Zhang, Shang-Ming Liu
Peng Zhang, Shang-Ming Liu, Medical Basic Experiment Teaching Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China
Co-corresponding authors: Peng Zhang and Shang-Ming Liu.
Author contributions: Zhang P wrote the original draft; Liu SM contributed to conceptualization, writing, reviewing, and editing; Zhang P and Liu SM participated in drafting the manuscript; and all authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
AI contribution statement: The authors used ChatGPT (OpenAI) during the preparation of the manuscript for language editing and for formatting. After using this tool, the authors reviewed and edited the content as needed and take full responsibility for the content of the published article.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Peng Zhang, PhD, Medical Basic Experiment Teaching Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, No. 44 Wenhua Xi Road, Lixia District, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China. zhangpeng1990@sdu.edu.cn
Received: November 24, 2025 Revised: December 14, 2025 Accepted: January 13, 2026 Published online: June 28, 2026 Processing time: 197 Days and 8.5 Hours
Abstract
The study by Zakharzhevskaya et al illustrates how integrating metabolic and metagenomic approaches can reveal pathophysiological features of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Their work identifies distinct microbial and metabolic profiles in pediatric and adult patients, suggesting potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and risk assessment. Importantly, the authors also develop and validate a novel risk prediction algorithm specifically for pediatric IBD. While this multi-omics framework represents a major step forward, using these findings in clinical practice will require a deeper look into the underlying pathways. This letter highlights key methodological limitations in Zakharzhevskaya et al’s study and puts forward a cross-population framework to accelerate the clinical application of age-specific IBD biomarkers. Future studies should focus on single-cell multi-omics, mapping immune-microbiome interactions, and comparing age-related immune responses in IBD to improve the practical value of the research.
Core Tip: This multi-omics investigation delineates distinct age-specific microbial and metabolic signatures differentiating pediatric and adult inflammatory bowel disease, identifying biomarkers for early diagnosis and risk stratification. While demonstrating promising potential for refining inflammatory bowel disease diagnostics, these findings require further validation and mechanistic exploration to facilitate clinical translation. The integration of metabolomic and metagenomic methodologies provides a robust framework for elucidating pathophysiological divergence across age groups, providing a foundation for personalized management strategies.
