Biomaterial Database

Influence of ghrelin on food intake and energy homeostasis. 2007

Carine De Vriese, and Christine Delporte

Laboratory of Biological Chemistry and Nutrition, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this review is to provide updated information on the role of ghrelin in food intake and energy homeostasis, and on its mechanism of action. Moreover, the potential of ghrelin as a target for drugs to treat cachexia and obesity will be discussed. RESULTS Whereas the effects of ghrelin in the regulation of appetite, food intake and energy homeostasis have been fairly well documented, the pathways responsible for the effects of ghrelin are now increasingly being understood. As a consequence, clinical applications of ghrelin are now being developed. CONCLUSIONS Ghrelin is an endogenous orexigenic peptide recently discovered in the stomach. Ghrelin is involved in short-term regulation of food intake since its plasma levels increase before meals and decrease strongly postprandially. Ghrelin is also involved in long-term body-weight regulation by inducing adiposity. Ghrelin might be useful for cachexia and obesity treatment.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009765	Obesity	A status with BODY WEIGHT that is grossly above the recommended standards, usually due to accumulation of excess FATS in the body. The standards may vary with age, sex, genetic or cultural background. In the BODY MASS INDEX, a BMI greater than 30.0 kg/m2 is considered obese, and a BMI greater than 40.0 kg/m2 is considered morbidly obese (MORBID OBESITY).
D001835	Body Weight	The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms.	Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D002149	Energy Intake	Total number of calories taken in daily whether ingested or by parenteral routes.	Caloric Intake,Calorie Intake,Intake, Calorie,Intake, Energy
D004734	Energy Metabolism	The chemical reactions involved in the production and utilization of various forms of energy in cells.	Bioenergetics,Energy Expenditure,Bioenergetic,Energy Expenditures,Energy Metabolisms,Expenditure, Energy,Expenditures, Energy,Metabolism, Energy,Metabolisms, Energy
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000855	Anorexia	The lack or loss of APPETITE accompanied by an aversion to food and the inability to eat. It is the defining characteristic of the disorder ANOREXIA NERVOSA.	Anorexias
D001066	Appetite	Natural recurring desire for food. Alterations may be induced by APPETITE DEPRESSANTS or APPETITE STIMULANTS.	Appetite Alterations,Alteration, Appetite,Alterations, Appetite,Appetite Alteration,Appetites
D054439	Ghrelin	A 28-amino acid, acylated, orexigenic peptide that is a ligand for GROWTH HORMONE SECRETAGOGUE RECEPTORS. Ghrelin is widely expressed but primarily in the stomach in the adults. Ghrelin acts centrally to stimulate growth hormone secretion and food intake, and peripherally to regulate energy homeostasis. Its large precursor protein, known as appetite-regulating hormone or motilin-related peptide, contains ghrelin and obestatin.	Appetite-Regulating Hormone,GHRL Protein,Gastric MLTRP,Ghrelin Precursor,Ghrelin-Obestatin Preprohormone,Motilin-Related Peptide,Motilin-Related Peptide Precursor,Obestatin,PpMTLRP,Ppghrelin,Appetite Regulating Hormone,Ghrelin Obestatin Preprohormone,Motilin Related Peptide,Motilin Related Peptide Precursor,Peptide Precursor, Motilin-Related,Precursor, Ghrelin,Precursor, Motilin-Related Peptide
D020738	Leptin	A 16-kDa peptide hormone secreted from WHITE ADIPOCYTES. Leptin serves as a feedback signal from fat cells to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM in regulation of food intake, energy balance, and fat storage.	Ob Protein,Obese Protein,Ob Gene Product,Obese Gene Product,Gene Product, Ob,Gene Product, Obese