title: The effect of ghrelin on cell proliferation in small intestinal IEC-6 cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent evidence demonstrates that ghrelin, a short orexigenic peptide from the stomach, has dual effects on cell proliferation in different cell types via autocrine and/or paracrine mechanisms. The aim of this study is to investigate the proliferative role of ghrelin in intestinal epithelial IEC-6 cells and explore underlying mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  RT-PCR was used for the detection of growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a. Cell proliferation was measured using Cell Counting Kit-8. Protein expression of ERK 1/2 and Akt was examined using western blotting. Inhibitors of mitogen activated protein kinases kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase were used to evaluate the role of these signalling pathways in ghrelin-induced proliferation of IEC-6 cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a mRNA was present in IEC-6 cells. Ghrelin and des-acyl ghrelin increased IEC-6 cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Ghrelin and des-acyl ghrelin activated ERK1/2, but not Akt. U0126, a specific inhibitor of mitogen activated protein kinases kinase, blocked ghrelin- and des-acyl ghrelin-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation and cell proliferation in IEC-6 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ghrelin and des-acyl ghrelin stimulate the proliferation of IEC-6 cells via the ERK1/2 pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, No. 1508, Longhang Road, Jinshan, Shanghai, 201508, China.
authors.forename: Huafang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Guoxiong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000502:physiology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000502:physiology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin