title: Ghrelin attenuates renal fibrosis and inflammation of obstructive nephropathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ghrelin is a gastric peptide that modulates multiple biological functions, of which the stimulation of food intake is the most well-known function. Ghrelin also exerts potential anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic properties in different organs but to our knowledge whether ghrelin inhibits the progression of renal fibrosis is unknown. Thus, we investigated the effect and underlying mechanisms of ghrelin in a rat model of renal fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Sprague Dawley® rats were divided into 4 groups, including vehicle or ghrelin treated sham operated groups and vehicle or ghrelin treated unilateral ureteral obstruction groups. Kidneys harvested on postoperative day 7 or 14 were evaluated for renal inflammation, fibrosis and apoptosis, and the expression of profibrotic and proinflammatory factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ghrelin inhibited renal fibrosis by attenuating collagen production, extracellular matrix deposition, and α-smooth muscle actin and fibronectin expression. Ghrelin administration decreased macrophage infiltration and several proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β and monocyte chemotactic protein-1, as well as phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB p65. Ghrelin also inhibited myofibroblast accumulation by blocking the transforming growth factor-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway. Furthermore, ghrelin attenuated renal tubular cell apoptosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition processes induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that ghrelin is a potent antifibrotic agent that may have therapeutic potential in patients with obstructive nephropathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Transplantation and National Key Clinic Specialty, Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Department of Neurosurgery (RD), Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guang-Xi
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Transplantation and National Key Clinic Specialty, Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Department of Neurosurgery (RD), Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Transplantation and National Key Clinic Specialty, Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Department of Neurosurgery (RD), Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Transplantation and National Key Clinic Specialty, Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Department of Neurosurgery (RD), Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Transplantation and National Key Clinic Specialty, Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Department of Neurosurgery (RD), Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Li-Pei
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Transplantation and National Key Clinic Specialty, Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Department of Neurosurgery (RD), Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liang-Sheng
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Transplantation and National Key Clinic Specialty, Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Department of Neurosurgery (RD), Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liu-Yang
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Transplantation and National Key Clinic Specialty, Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Department of Neurosurgery (RD), Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: zhaoming077@126.com.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin
keywords: fibrosis; ghrelin; inflammation; kidney; ureteral obstruction