Organ cross-talk: molecular mechanisms, biological functions, and therapeutic interventions for diseases

Organ cross-talk, also known as the organ axis or organ interaction network, plays a vital role in maintaining physiological homeostasis and responding to environmental stimuli. This review comprehensively integrates cutting-edge observations in organ communication research, with a particular focus on the brain, heart, and gut-the three core organs that garner the most attention in organ connection studies. The current state of organ interaction network research is clearly presented as a Sankey diagram. For brain-related connections, the interactions among the brain-gut, brain-liver, and brain-heart connections are thoroughly reviewed; for heart-related connections, the relationships among the heart-kidney, heart-lung, and heart-liver connections are explored in detail; and for gut-related connections, the interactions among the gut-liver, gut-kidney, and gut-lung connections are emphasized. Additional information on other prevalent organ connections is systematically organized in tables for intuitive presentation. Through the integration of profound insights into molecular mechanisms and biological functions, the complex signaling pathways regulating organ interactions in health and disease states have been systematically elucidated. In terms of therapeutic strategy development, numerous directions with potential application value are proposed on the basis of these research findings. Furthermore, this review meticulously discusses the diverse methods and advanced technologies employed in organ connection research, comprehensively highlighting the critical role of technological support in advancing this field. In the future, this review advocates the adoption of network-driven models, innovative diagnostic approaches, and personalized treatment strategies to offer new perspectives for addressing complex diseases from a systems biology standpoint.