Klaudia Dynarowicz, Dorota Bartusik-Aebisher and David Aebisher
Medical College of The University of Rzeszów, Poland

Part of the book: The Biochemical Guide to Hormones

Abstract

Ghrelin is a multi-purpose intestinal peptide hormone acting as the natural agonist of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. The main place of its production is the stomach. Ghrelin also activates the metabolism in the stomach and stimulates the process of gastric acid secretion. Ghrelin reduces the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, inhibits the proliferation of T lymphocytes prevents adherence of blood monocytes to vascular endothelial cells and reduces the synthesis of chemokines. Ghreli affects the process of cell proliferation and the process of apoptosis. Due to the fact that ghrelin supports the appetite, it indirectly influences body weight. Ghrelin may be an innovative therapeutic candidate for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Is a possibility of its clinical application for conditions like anorexia, cachexia, sarcopenia, gastrointestinal diseases, cardiovascular diseases, renal and pulmonary diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, inflammatory disorders and metabolic syndromes.

Keywords: ghrelin, lymphocytes, adipose tissue, atherosclerosis, growth hormone (GH), paracrine/autocrine

References

Poher, A. L., Tschöp, M.H., Müller, T. D. Ghrelin regulation of glucose metabolism.
Peptides, 2018, 100, 236-242.
Polińska, B., Matowicka-Karna, J., Kemona, H. The role of ghrelin in the organism.
Postepy Hig. Med. Dosw., 2011, 65, 1-7.
Pradhan, G., Samson, S. L., Sun, Y. Ghrelin: much more than a hunger hormone. Curr.
Opin. Clin. Nutr. Metab. Care. 2013, 16, 619-624.
Spencer, S. J., Emmerzaal, T. L., Kozicz, T., Andrews, Z. B. Ghrelin’s role in the
hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis stress response: implications for mood disorders.
Biol. Psychiatry. 2015, 78, 19-27.
Tokudome, T., Kangawa, K. Physiological significance of ghrelin in the cardiovascular
system. Proc. Jpn. Acad. Ser. B Phys. Bio.l Sci. 2019, 95, 459-467.