|
 |
REVIEW ARTICLE |
|
Year : 2014 | Volume
: 15
| Issue : 3 | Page : 74-76 |
|
|
Cardioprotective effects of ghrelin in heart failure: From gut to heart
Mahalaqua Nazli Khatib1, Padam Simkhada2, Dilip Gode3
1 Department of Physiology, JNMC, Wardha, Maharashtra, India 2 The School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, United Kingdom 3 Vice Chancellor, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, Maharashtra, India
Date of Web Publication | 15-Nov-2014 |
Correspondence Address: Mahalaqua Nazli Khatib Department of Physiology, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, Maharashtra India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1995-705X.144792
Abstract | | |
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Cardioprotective effects of ghrelin, especially in its acylated form have been demonstrated in heart failure (HF) models and exploratory human clinical studies. Hence, it has been proposed for the treatment of HF. However, the underlying mechanism of its protective effects against HF remains unclear. Future researches are needed to evaluate the efficacy of Ghrelin as a new biomarker and prognostic tool and for exploring its therapeutic potential in patients suffering from CHF. Keywords: Cardioprotective effects, ghrelin, gut
How to cite this article: Khatib MN, Simkhada P, Gode D. Cardioprotective effects of ghrelin in heart failure: From gut to heart. Heart Views 2014;15:74-6 |
Introduction | |  |
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Apart from the many causes of CHF, a slow reduction in the number of cardiomyocytes is one of the most important causative factors. [1] Therefore, inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis may have implications for the treatment of heart failure (HF).
Ghrelin
Ghrelin, a gut-derived 28-amino acid peptide hormone was first identified in 1999 by Kojima as an endogenous ligand for the GH secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), an endogenous stimulator of GH and is now implicated in a number of physiological processes. Cardioprotective effects of ghrelin, especially in its acylated form have been demonstrated on HF models and exploratory human clinical studies. Hence, it has been proposed for the treatment of HF. However, the underlying mechanism of its protective effects against HF remains unclear.
Cardiovascular Effects of Ghrelin
Clinical studies have reported that ghrelin confers a variety of potentially beneficial cardiovascular effects, which includes reduction of mean arterial blood pressure, increase in myocardial contractility, protection of endothelial cells, and improvement of energy metabolism of myocardial cells. [2],[3] Exogenous administration of ghrelin also results in improvement in coronary flow, heart rate, dilatation of peripheral blood vessels, constriction of coronary arteries, and improvement in ventricular and endothelial function. Clinical studies have reported that exogenous administration of ghrelin decreases muscle wasting, improves exercise capacity, inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis, inhibits sympathetic nerve activity, and protects from HF induced by myocardial infarction. [4],[5],[6] Importantly, administration of ghrelin has been demonstrated to improve the cardiac function and prognosis in patients suffering from end-stage CHF. [7] In vitro, ghrelin decreases inotropism and lusitropism. Ghrelin reverses cardiac cachexia by promoting a positive energy balance and also by enhancing direct cardioprotective effects of ghrelin. [8] These cardioprotective effects are independent of growth hormone release and likely involve binding to cardiovascular receptors. [9]
There is a widespread distribution of ghrelin and its receptors (GHSR 1a) in the cardiovascular tissues, which provides a definitive evidence of its cardiac actions. The protective effects of ghrelin on heart are mediated through direct effects on the heart and blood vessel and through its growth-hormone-releasing effect. In normal individuals, acute increases in ghrelin do not alter cardiac metabolism, whereas in patients with HF, they enhance oxidation of free fatty acids and reduce the oxidation of glucose, thus partly correcting its metabolic alterations. This interesting mechanism of action of ghrelin may contribute to the cardioprotective effects of ghrelin in HF. [10]
Ghrelin mediates cardioprotective effects by modulating cardiac autonomic nervous activity. However; the precise mechanisms by which ghrelin regulates sympathetic activity are still unclear and needs further investigation. Peripheral ghrelin may act on GHSR 1a at the cardiac vagal nerve ending, which goes to the nucleus of tractus solitarius (NTS) and inhibit the renal sympathetic nerve activity (SNA). [11] Ghrelin can also act directly on the central nervous system (CNS) and alter the sensitivity of CNS to other hormones participating in regulation of sympathetic activity. [12] Administration of ghrelin brings down the plasma levels of epinephrine and dopamine and shifts the balance of autonomic nervous activity toward parasympathetic nervous activity. [11]
Ghrelin increases the size of cardiomyocytes, prolongs their survival, and protects the cardiomyocytes against apoptosis and myocardial injury induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) through a GHS-R1a, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase (CaMKK), and adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway. [13] Administration of ghrelin lowers the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and myoglobin by the cardiomyocytes, indicating protection against cardiomyocyte injury. So also, ghrelin may have other cardiovascular beneficial effects in the form of prevention of atherosclerosis as well as protection from ischemia and reperfusion injury.
Levels of Angiotensin II (Ang II) and ghrelin are both significantly increased in patients with HF. [14] Ghrelin inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. Ghrelin inhibits the Ang II induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis in patients with HF. Ghrelin also inhibits the AT1 receptor up-regulation induced by Ang II, thereby playing a role in preventing HF. [14] Elevated levels of ghrelin in patients with HF can be a protective compensatory mechanism for reduced body weight in order to enhance appetite and weight gain in cachexia patients with HF. However, Chang et al. has reported that plasma ghrelin levels are significantly lower in patients with HF and also differ with the severity of HF and that higher levels of ghrelin is an indicator of a better prognosis for HF. [15] Thus; ghrelin can be considered as a new biomarker of severity as well as prognostic predictor for patients with CHF.
Conclusion | |  |
The multifunctional nature of ghrelin makes it an interesting pharmacological target for various diseases. Future researches are needed to evaluate the efficacy of ghrelin as a new biomarker and prognostic tool and for exploring its therapeutic potential in patients suffering from CHF.
References | |  |
1. | Kang PM, Izumo S. Apoptosis and heart failure: A critical review of the literature. Circ Res 2000;86:1107-13.  |
2. | Yang C, Wang Y, Liu H, Li N, Sun Y, Liu Z, et al. Ghrelin protects H9c2 cardiomyocytes from angiotensin II-induced apoptosis through the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2012;59:465-71.  |
3. | Ledderose C, Kreth S, Beiras-Fernandez A. Ghrelin, a novel peptide hormone in the regulation of energy balance and cardiovascular function. Recent Pat Endocr Metab Immune Drug Discov 2011;5:1-6.  |
4. | Zhang GG, Cai HQ, Li YH, Sui YB, Zhang JS, Chang JR, et al. Ghrelin protects heart against ERS-induced injury and apoptosis by activating AMP-activated protein kinase. Peptides 2013;48:156-65.  |
5. | Yano Y, Nakazato M, Toshinai K, Inokuchi T, Matsuda S, Hidaka T, et al. Circulating des-acyl ghrelin improves cardiovascular risk prediction in older hypertensive patients. Am J Hypertens 2014;27:727-33.  |
6. | Yang D, Liu Z, Luo Q. Plasma ghrelin and pro-inflammatory markers in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and stable coronary heart disease. Med Sci Monit 2013;19:251-6.  |
7. | Nagaya N, Moriya J, Yasumura Y, Uematsu M, Ono F, Shimizu W, et al. Effects of ghrelin administration on left ventricular function, exercise capacity, and muscle wasting in patients with chronic heart failure. Circulation 2004;110:3674-9.  |
8. | Invernizzi M, Carda S, Cisari C; on behalf of Società Italiana per lo Studio della Sarcopenia e della Disabilità Muscolo-Scheletrica (SISDIM). Possible synergism of physical exercise and ghrelin-agonists in patients with cachexia associated with chronic heart failure. Aging Clin Exp Res 2013.  |
9. | Chang L, Ren Y, Liu X, Li WG, Yang J, Geng B, et al. Protective effects of ghrelin on ischemia/reperfusion injury in the isolated rat heart. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2004;43:165-70.  |
10. | Mitacchione G, Powers JC, Grifoni G, Woitek F, Lam A, Ly L, et al. The gut hormone ghrelin partially reverses energy substrate metabolic alterations in the failing heart. Circ Heart Fail 2014.  |
11. | Mao Y, Tokudome T, Kishimoto I, Otani K, Miyazato M, Kangawa K. One dose of oral hexarelin protects chronic cardiac function after myocardial infarction. Peptides 2014;56:156-62.  |
12. | Freeman JN, do Carmo JM, Adi AH, da Silva AA. Chronic central ghrelin infusion reduces blood pressure and heart rate despite increasing appetite and promoting weight gain in normotensive and hypertensive rats. Peptides 2013;42:35-42.  |
13. | Pei XM, Yung BY, Yip SP, Ying M, Benzie IF, Siu PM. Desacyl ghrelin prevents doxorubicin-induced myocardial fibrosis and apoptosis via the GHSR-independent pathway. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2014;306:E311-23.  |
14. | Yang C, Liu Z, Liu K, Yang P. Mechanisms of Ghrelin anti-heart failure: Inhibition of Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by down-regulating AT1R expression. PLoS One 2014;9:e85785.  |
15. | Chang L, Zhao J, Li GZ, Geng B, Pan CS, Qi YF, et al. Ghrelin protects myocardium from isoproterenol-induced injury in rats. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2004;25:1131-7.  |
This article has been cited by | 1 |
What endocrinologists can do to prevent cardiovascular complications in adults with Prader-Willi syndrome: Lessons from a case series |
|
| Karlijn Pellikaan, Paula M. H. van Weijen, Anna G. W. Rosenberg, Franciska M. E. Hoekstra, Michiel Vermaak, Peter H. N. Oomen, Aart J. van der Lely, Judith A. A. E. Cuypers, Laura C. G. de Graaff | | Frontiers in Endocrinology. 2023; 14 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 2 |
Highlighting the Role of Obesity and Insulin Resistance in Type 1 Diabetes and Its Associated Cardiometabolic Complications |
|
| Georgios Karamanakos, Alexander Kokkinos, Maria Dalamaga, Stavros Liatis | | Current Obesity Reports. 2022; | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 3 |
Effect of ghrelin on VEGF-B and connexin-43 in a rat model of doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy |
|
| Mona G. Elhadidy,Ahlam Elmasry,Mohammed R. Rabei,Ahmed E. Eladel | | Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology. 2020; 31(1) | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 4 |
The Additional Prognostic Value of Ghrelin for Mortality and Readmission in Elderly Patients with Acute Heart Failure |
|
| Yin Yuan,Feng Huang,Chaochao Deng,Pengli Zhu | | Clinical Interventions in Aging. 2020; Volume 15: 1353 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 5 |
GHRELIN AS A POTENTIAL BIOMARKER AND MEDICAL DRUG |
|
| G. V. Zaychenko,N. O. Gorchakova,N. V. Savchenko,O. V. Klymenko,K. Ju. Sorocopud | | Bulletin of Problems Biology and Medicine. 2020; 1(1): 39 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 6 |
Obesity or BMI Paradox? Beneath the Tip of the Iceberg |
|
| Lorenzo Maria Donini,Alessandro Pinto,Anna Maria Giusti,Andrea Lenzi,Eleonora Poggiogalle | | Frontiers in Nutrition. 2020; 7 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 7 |
Ghrelin Physiology and Pathophysiology: Focus on the Cardiovascular System |
|
| O. V. Gruzdeva,D. A. Borodkina,E. V. Belik,O. E. Akbasheva,E. I. Palicheva,O. L. Barbarash | | Kardiologiia. 2019; 59(3): 60 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 8 |
Effects of ghrelin supplementation on the acute phase of Chagas disease in rats |
|
| Ferdinando de Paula Silva,Cássia Mariana Bronzon da Costa,Luiz Miguel Pereira,Diego Fernando Silva Lessa,Dimitrius Leonardo Pitol,João Paulo Mardegan Issa,José Clóvis do Prado Júnior,Ana Amélia Carraro Abrahão | | Parasites & Vectors. 2019; 12(1) | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 9 |
Ghrelin and LEAP-2: Rivals in Energy Metabolism |
|
| Omar Al-Massadi,Timo Müller,Matthias Tschöp,Carlos Diéguez,Ruben Nogueiras | | Trends in Pharmacological Sciences. 2018; 39(8): 685 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 10 |
The role of appetite-regulating hormones: Ghrelin and leptin in the nutritional status of children with neurogenic bladder due to myelomeningocele |
|
| Joanna O Baginska,Alicja Liszewska,Anna Wasilewska,Agata Korzeniecka-Kozerska | | Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. 2018; | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 11 |
Ghrelin for the management of cachexia associated with cancer |
|
| Mahalaqua Nazli Khatib,Anuraj H Shankar,Richard Kirubakaran,Abhay Gaidhane,Shilpa Gaidhane,Padam Simkhada,Zahiruddin Quazi Syed | | Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2018; | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 12 |
Ghrelin and acyl ghrelin levels are associated with inflammatory and nutritional markers and with cardiac and vascular dysfunction parameters in hemodialysis patients |
|
| Crina Claudia Rusu,Simona Racasan,Diana Moldovan,Alina Potra,Dacian Tirinescu,Cristian Budurea,Remus Orasan,Ioan Mihai Patiu,Cosmina Bondor,Dan Vladutiu,Dan Delean,Alexandra Danu,Ina Maria Kacso | | International Urology and Nephrology. 2018; | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 13 |
Yoga for improving functional capacity, quality of life and cardiovascular outcomes in people with heart failure |
|
| Mahalaqua Nazli Khatib,Richard Kirubakaran,Shilpa Gaidhane,Anuraj H Shankar,Zahiruddin Quazi Syed | | Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2017; | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 14 |
Ghrelin inhibits atherosclerotic plaque angiogenesis and promotes plaque stability in a rabbit atherosclerotic model |
|
| Li Wang,Qingwei Chen,Dazhi Ke,Guiqiong Li | | Peptides. 2017; 90: 17 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 15 |
Body habitus in heart failure: understanding the mechanisms and clinical significance of the obesity paradox |
|
| Parham Parto,Carl J Lavie,Ross Arena,Samantha Bond,Dejana Popovic,Hector O Ventura | | Future Cardiology. 2016; 12(6): 639 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 16 |
Upregulation of miR-21 by Ghrelin Ameliorates Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Acute Kidney Injury by Inhibiting Inflammation and Cell Apoptosis |
|
| Wanzhe Zhang,Liliang Shu | | DNA and Cell Biology. 2016; | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 17 |
Ghrelin for the management of cachexia associated with cancer |
|
| Mahalaqua Nazli Khatib,Anuraj Shankar,Richard Kirubakaran,Abhay Gaidhane,Shilpa Gaidhane,Padam Simkhada,Zahiruddin Quazi Syed | | Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016; | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 18 |
GHSR-1a is a novel pro-angiogenic and anti-remodeling target in rats after myocardial infarction |
|
| Ming-Jie Yuan,Tao Wang,Bin Kong,Xin Wang,Cong-Xin Huang,Danny Wang | | European Journal of Pharmacology. 2016; 788: 218 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 19 |
Octanoylated ghrelin attenuates angiogenesis induced by oxLDL in human coronary artery endothelial cells via the GHSR1a-mediated NF-?B pathway |
|
| Li Wang,Guiqiong Li,Qingwei Chen,Dazhi Ke | | Metabolism. 2015; 64(10): 1262 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 20 |
Ghrelin ameliorates impaired angiogenesis of ischemic myocardium through GHSR1a-mediated AMPK/eNOS signal pathway in diabetic rats |
|
| Li Wang,Qingwei Chen,Guiqiong Li,Dazhi Ke | | Peptides. 2015; 73: 77 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 21 |
Effect of Ghrelin on Mortality and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Experimental Rat and Mice Models of Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
|
| Mahalaqua Nazli Khatib,Anuraj Shankar,Richard Kirubakaran,Kingsley Agho,Padam Simkhada,Shilpa Gaidhane,Deepak Saxena,Unnikrishnan B,Dilip Gode,Abhay Gaidhane,Syed Quazi Zahiruddin,Xiongwen Chen | | PLOS ONE. 2015; 10(5): e0126697 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | 22 |
60 YEARS OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY: The hypothalamo-GH axis: the past 60 years |
|
| P G Murray,C E Higham,P E Clayton | | Journal of Endocrinology. 2015; 226(2): T123 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | |
|
 |
 |
|