Ghrelin treatment suppresses neutrophil-dominant inflammation in airways of patients with chronic respiratory infection.
BACKGROUND
Persistent neutrophil influx into the airways is a characteristic of chronic respiratory infection and contributes to the deterioration of pulmonary function. Ghrelin is a novel growth hormone (GH)-releasing peptide with potential anti-inflammatory activities. The present study investigated whether or not ghrelin can reduce neutrophil-dominant inflammation in airways of patients with chronic respiratory infection.


METHODS
Synthesized ghrelin was administered intravenously for 3 weeks to 7 cachectic patients with chronic respiratory infection to confirm ghrelin's effects on airway inflammation and nutrition state. Neutrophils, neutrophil products and inflammatory cytokines in sputum were used as markers of airway inflammation. Changes in serum protein levels were also evaluated along with plasma catecholamine levels. Exercise tolerance was assessed by measuring 6-min walking distance before and after 3 weeks of ghrelin treatment.


RESULTS
Three-week ghrelin administration decreased neutrophil density and inflammatory cytokine levels in sputum, reduced plasma norepinephrine level, and increased body weight, serum protein level, and 6-min walking distance.


CONCLUSIONS
Ghrelin administration suppressed airway inflammation by decreasing neutrophil accumulation in lungs and increased body weight. These findings may contribute to the development of supportive therapies for patients with refractory chronic respiratory infection.
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Miyazaki University School of Medicine, Kihara 5200, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan.
Tsuyoshi
T
Kodama
Jun-Ichi
J
Ashitani
Nobuhiro
N
Matsumoto
Kenji
K
Kangawa
Masamitsu
M
Nakazato
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology
D001798:Blood Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D054439:Ghrelin; D010100:Oxygen; D009638:Norepinephrine