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Letter to the Editor
©The Author(s) 2026. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 14, 2026; 32(6): 115232
Published online Feb 14, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v32.i6.115232
Bidirectional regulation between the endocrine system and liver: From mechanisms to multidisciplinary clinical care
Kai-Rui Wan, Cheng Qian, Li-Mei Liu
Kai-Rui Wan, Cheng Qian, Li-Mei Liu, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
Kai-Rui Wan, Cheng Qian, Li-Mei Liu, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Cancer Metastasis and Individualized Treatment, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing 400030, China
Co-corresponding authors: Cheng Qian and Li-Mei Liu.
Author contributions: Wan KR conceived and designed the study, and drafted the original manuscript. Qian C and Liu LM are designated as co-corresponding authors, with equally significant, indispensable contributions pivotal to the work’s development and completion. Specifically, Qian C guided the study’s academic framework, led systematic literature retrieval and in-depth critical analysis of core studies, refined the manuscript’s logical structure, and revised the early draft to align with the journal’s academic standards. Liu LM verified the rationality of experimental data and methodologies, drafted and refined the mechanism discussion, addressed peer review comments, and coordinated the final manuscript to meet all submission requirements. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Supported by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China, No. 82273071.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for the manuscript.
Corresponding author: Li-Mei Liu, PhD, Associate Professor, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Cancer Metastasis and Individualized Treatment, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, No. 131 Yubei Road, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400030, China. limeilliu@126.com
Received: October 14, 2025
Revised: November 17, 2025
Accepted: December 15, 2025
Published online: February 14, 2026
Processing time: 113 Days and 23.5 Hours
Core Tip

Core Tip: The endocrine system and liver form a dynamic bidirectional network via hormone synthesis/metabolism and signaling regulation. Hormones (e.g., thyroid hormones, insulin) maintain hepatic glucose/lipid homeostasis and bile acid metabolism; conversely, chronic liver diseases disrupt endocrine balance through impaired hormone clearance, hypothalamic-pituitary axis dysfunction, and systemic inflammation, forming a “liver disease-endocrine disorder” vicious cycle. Key research gaps include insufficient exploration of the gut microbiota-endocrine-liver axis, lack of special population data, and delayed integration of emerging therapies. Future efforts should focus on molecular mechanism refinement, special population studies, and multidisciplinary team practice to achieve precise management of endocrine-related liver diseases.