Age-dependent decrease in the ghrelin gene expression in the human adrenal cortex: a real-time PCR study.
Numerous lines of evidence indicate that ghrelin, an endogenous ligand of the growth hormone-secretagogue receptor, is expressed in the human and rat adrenal cortex. In this study, we examined whether ghrelin gene expression undergoes changes in the human adrenal cortex during aging. Semi-quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated a highly significant negative correlation between ghrelin mRNA and age in adrenal cortex of 27 patients (aged from 33 to 82 years), who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy/nephrectomy for kidney cancer. No significant differences in the level of adrenal ghrelin expression were observed between males and females. Since it has been previously shown that ghrelin exerts a marked growth-stimulating action on cultured adrenocortical cells, we hypothesize that the down-regulation of ghrelin gene transcription in adrenals could be associated with the reported decrease in adrenal DNA synthesis and mitogenic activity during aging.
Carraro
Gianni
G
Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Section of Anatomy, University of Padua, I-35121 Padua, Italy.
Albertin
Giovanna
G
Aragona
Francesco
F
Forneris
Myriam
M
Casale
Valentina
V
Spinazzi
Raffaella
R
Nussdorfer
Gastone G
GG
D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D054439:Ghrelin; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D012333:RNA, Messenger