title: Ghrelin-ghrelin O-acyltransferase system in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently considered as the most common liver disease in Western countries, and is rapidly becoming a serious threat to public health worldwide. However, the underlying mechanisms leading to the development of NAFLD are still not fully understood. The ghrelin-ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT) system has recently been found to play a crucial role in both the development of steatosis and its progression to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Ghrelin, the natural ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, is a 28-amino acid peptide possessing a unique acylation on the serine in position 3 catalyzed by GOAT. The ghrelin-GOAT system is involved in insulin resistance, lipid metabolism dysfunction, and inflammation, all of which play important roles in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. A better understanding of ghrelin-GOAT system biology led to the identification of its potential roles in NAFLD. Molecular targets modulating ghrelin-GOAT levels and the biologic effects are being studied, which provide a new insight into the pathogenesis of NAFLD. This review probes into the possible relationship between the ghrelin-GOAT system and NAFLD, and considers the potential mechanisms by which the ghrelin-GOAT system brings about insulin resistance and other aspects concerning NAFLD.
authors: Shao-Ren Zhang, Xiao-Ming Fan, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China.
authors: Shao-Ren
authors: SR
authors: Zhang
authors: Shao-Ren Zhang, Xiao-Ming Fan, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China.
authors: Xiao-Ming
authors: XM
authors: Fan
mesh_terms: D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin; D000217:Acyltransferases; C542776:MBOAT4 protein, human
keywords: Energy homeostasis; Ghrelin-ghrelin O-acyltransferase system; Insulin resistance; Lipid metabolism; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease