title: Acylated and unacylated ghrelin administration to blunt muscle wasting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Muscle wasting is a comorbidity often associated with a wide range of disorders that severely affects patient prognosis and quality of life. Ghrelin, through its receptor GHSR-1a, stimulates appetite and growth hormone (GH) release. Several studies indicate that ghrelin administration is a valid treatment for cachexia because it improves muscle mass and function, likely by restoring a positive energy balance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In addition to its GHSR-1a-mediated effects on muscle mass, ghrelin acts directly on skeletal muscle, wherein it exerts a protective activity against muscle wasting. This direct activity is independent of GHSR-1a and is shared by the unacylated form of ghrelin, which does not bind GHSR-1a and is devoid of the effects on appetite and GH release.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both the acylated and unacylated forms of ghrelin might have therapeutic potential for the treatment of skeletal muscle wasting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale 'A. Avogadro', Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reano
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Graziani
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Filigheddu
mesh_terms: D000215:Acylation; D002100:Cachexia / Q000188:drug therapy; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin / Q000502:physiology; D019282:Wasting Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin