title: Ghrelin and Blood Pressure Regulation.
abstract: Ghrelin is a growth hormone-releasing polypeptide that was first isolated from the rat stomach in 1999. High expression of growth hormone secretagogue receptor, the ghrelin receptor, in the heart, kidney, and blood vessels provides evidence of ghrelin activity in blood pressure regulation. Circulating ghrelin concentrations are reported to be inversely correlated with blood pressure, and the acute and chronic effects of ghrelin in decreasing blood pressure have been reported in animals with normal blood pressure, healthy individuals, animals and patients with heart failure, and animals with hypertension. The mechanism by which ghrelin regulates blood pressure appears to be related to modulation of the autonomic nervous system, direct vasodilatory activities, and kidney diuresis. Thus, modulation of the signaling pathway through ghrelin may provide a novel concept for treating hypertension. In this review, we discuss the current evidence and potential mechanisms of ghrelin activity in blood pressure regulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Akron General Medical Center, Cleveland Clinic Affiliate, Akron, OH, 44307, USA.|Department of Biochemistry, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuanjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tokudome
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, 5-7-1 Fujishiro-dai, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565, Japan. kishimot@hsp.ncvc.go.jp.
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004231:Diuresis / Q000187:drug effects; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006333:Heart Failure; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin
keywords: Autonomic nervous system; Blood pressure; Ghrelin; Hypertension; Treatment