title: Neuroendocrine and metabolic activities of ghrelin gene products.
abstract: Acylated ghrelin (AG) is a 28 amino acid gastric peptide a natural ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) receptor type 1a (GHS-R1a), endowed with GH-secreting and orexigenic properties. Besides, ghrelin exerts several peripheral metabolic actions, including modulation of glucose homeostasis and stimulation of adipogenesis. Notably, AG administration causes hyperglycemia in rodents as in humans. Ghrelin pleiotropy is supported by a widespread expression of the ghrelin gene, of GHS-R1a and other unknown ghrelin binding sites. The existence of alternative receptors for AG, of several natural ligands for GHS-R1a and of acylation-independent ghrelin non-neuroendocrine activities, suggests that there might be a complex 'ghrelin system' not yet completely explored. Moreover, the patho-physiological implications of unacylated ghrelin (UAG), and obestatin (Ob), the other two ghrelin gene-derived peptides, need to be clarified. Within the next few years, we may better understand the 'ghrelin system', where we might envisage clinical applications.
authors: Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. alessandra.baragli@unito.it
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Baragli
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Lanfranco
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Allasia
authors: Riccarda
authors: R
authors: Granata
authors: Ezio
authors: E
authors: Ghigo
mesh_terms: D000215:Acylation; D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D015870:Gene Expression; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000378:metabolism; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism; D011388:Prolactin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D006062:Gonadotropins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D000217:Acyltransferases; C526983:Mboat4 protein, mouse; D005947:Glucose