Gut Liver.  2013 Sep;7(5):505-512.

Role of Ghrelin in the Pathophysiology of Gastrointestinal Disease

• Cheung CK
• Wu JC

Abstract

Ghrelin is a 28-amino-acid peptide that plays multiple roles in humans and other mammals. The functions of ghrelin include food intake regulation, gastrointestinal (GI) motility, and acid secretion by the GI tract. Many GI disorders involving infection, inflammation, and malignancy are also correlated with altered ghrelin production and secretion. Although suppressed ghrelin responses have already been observed in various GI disorders, such as chronic gastritis, Helicobacter pylori infection, irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia, and cachexia, elevated ghrelin responses have also been reported in celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease. Moreover, we recently reported that decreased fasting and postprandial ghrelin levels were observed in female patients with functional dyspepsia compared with healthy subjects. These alterations of ghrelin responses were significantly correlated with meal-related symptoms (bloating and early satiation) in female functional dyspepsia patients. We therefore support the notion that abnormal ghrelin responses may play important roles in various GI disorders. Furthermore, human clinical trials and animal studies involving the administration of ghrelin or its receptor agonists have shown promising improvements in gastroparesis, anorexia, and cancer. This review summarizes the impact of ghrelin, its family of peptides, and its receptors on GI diseases and proposes ghrelin modulation as a potential therapy.

Keyword

Gastrointestinal tract; Ghrelin; Receptors, ghrelin; Ghrelin O-acyltransferase

MeSH Terms

Animals
Anorexia
Appetite Regulation
Cachexia
Celiac Disease
Dyspepsia
Fasting
Female
Gastritis
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Gastrointestinal Tract
Gastroparesis
Ghrelin
Helicobacter pylori
Humans
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Mammals
Peptides
Receptors, Ghrelin
Ghrelin
Peptides
Receptors, Ghrelin