title: C-terminal pro-ghrelin peptides are present in the human circulation.
abstract: We provide the first evidence for the existence in human plasma of peptides derived from the 66 carboxyl-terminal amino acids of pro-ghrelin (C-ghrelin). C-ghrelin immunoreactivity in plasma was higher than ghrelin, and did not significantly correlate with body mass index in normal health. In patients with myocardial infarction, plasma levels of both ghrelin and C-ghrelin were significantly decreased (approximately 30%, P<0.05), whereas in patients with heart failure, C-ghrelin levels were significantly elevated (approximately 32%, P<0.05) compared with controls. HPLC coupled with RIA showed circulating C-ghrelin to be primarily of low molecular weight (M(r) approximately 3500), but in chronic heart failure, a higher molecular weight form (M(r) approximately 7500) is also present. This is the first evidence for potential circulating hormones derived from the carboxyl terminus of pro-ghrelin and for their modulation in cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Christchurch Cardioendocrine Research Group, Christchurch School of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand. chris.pemberton@chmeds.ac.nz
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pemberton
authors.forename: Prasangi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wimalasena
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yandle
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soule
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Richards
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009037:Motilin / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D009037:Motilin