title: Ghrelin protects small intestinal epithelium against sepsis-induced injury by enhancing the autophagy of intestinal epithelial cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ghrelin is a hormone that protects against hypoxic injury of cardiac cells by inducing autophagy, but the role of autophagy in sepsis remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate whether ghrelin could enhance autophagy in rats with intestinal sepsis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) method was used to induce sepsis in Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were assigned to four groups: normal group, sham-operated group, sepsis group, and Ghrelin-treated group. Sera and small intestinal tissues were collected from all groups. The sepsis was evaluated by histological analysis, and autophagy of small intestinal epithelial cells was assessed by electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, and biochemical methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of autophagy-associated proteins such as LC3, Atg 7 and Beclin 1 increased by 8h post-CLP and declined to basal levels by 12h post-CLP. The expression of LC3, Atg 7 and Beclin 1 in Ghrelin-treated rats was higher than that in rats with sepsis. Furthermore, compared to rats with sepsis, Ghrelin-treated rats showed significantly reduced intestinal mucosa injury at 20h post-CLP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autophagy is induced in the early stages of sepsis. Ghrelin could enhance the autophagy of intestinal epithelial cells in rats with sepsis and protect the small intestinal epithelium against sepsis-induced injury.
authors: The No. 4 Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors: Sheng-Xia
authors: SX
authors: Wan
authors: Songjiang Hospital, Affiliated with First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Critical Care Unit, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: joysb1969@sina.com.
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Shi
authors: Songjiang Hospital, Affiliated with First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Central Laboratory, Shanghai, China.
authors: Xiao-Li
authors: XL
authors: Lou
authors: Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Critical Care Unit, Hanzhou, China.
authors: Jing-Quan
authors: JQ
authors: Liu
authors: Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated with FuDan University, Critical Care Unit, Shanghai, China.
authors: Guo-Guang
authors: GG
authors: Ma
authors: Songjiang Hospital, Affiliated with First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Central Laboratory, Shanghai, China.
authors: Dong-Yu
authors: DY
authors: Liang
authors: Songjiang Hospital, Affiliated with First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Critical Care Unit, Shanghai, China.
authors: Shuang
authors: S
authors: Ma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018805:Sepsis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D020011:Protective Agents
keywords: Autophagy; Ghrelin; Sepsis; Small intestine; The cecal ligation and perforation