Deleting the Body Clock Gene BMAL1 Weakens the Intestinal Lining and Increases Gut Inflammation by Triggering Cell Death

Deletion of the core transcription factor BMAL1 exacerbated the severity of colitis.

• BMAL1 expression is downregulated in ulcerative colitis tissues and LPS-induced MODE-K cells.
• CXCL1 is highly expressed in the same conditions.
• Overexpression of BMAL1 reduced pyroptosis in MODE-K cells and restored the expression of ZO-1, Claudin-1, and Occludin.
• BMAL1 may negatively regulate CXCL1 expression by inhibiting its promoter activity.
• Proteomics analysis identified MEF2A as a downstream protein of BMAL1, indicating a possible pathway of action.

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