Ghrelin and appetite regulation: Mechanism and clinical application / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

ABSTRACT

The development of obesity is closely related to the disruption of central appetite regulation. Gastric growth hormone-releasing peptide is the only appetite-promoting peptide known to be present in the circulatory system. Ghrelin may act on the central homeostatic and hedonic feeding neural pathways to promote appetite and feeding behavior, and may be a new target for appetite regulation. In addition, Ghrelin is also involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis via promoting growth, regulating gastrointestinal function, and suppressing inflammatory response. Therefore, the research on the mechanism of ghrelin and its receptors will help understand the pathophysiological changes in the central appetite regulation process of obese patients, and to find potential targets for the treatment of obesity. In this paper, we focus on the molecular mechanism of appetite regulation by Ghrelin and its clinical application.