GHRELINSIGNALING PATHWAY

- SHRADDHA D. REGE

GhrelinIs a 28 amino acid Orexigenic peptide and hormone.

Neuroendocrine hormone – exerts numerous physiological

roles.

Ghrelin levels increase before meals and decrease after meals.

Ghrelin ProductionProduced mainly by P/D1

cells of oxyntic gland abundantly present in the mucosal layer of the fundus region of the stomach.

Gastric fundus contains 10-20 times more Ghrelin than duodenum, the next richest source.

Overview of Ghrelin secretion and feedback mechanism

Mechanism of ActionReceptors for ghrelin have been found on NPY neurons in the

hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, a major brain area involved in the control of appetite. 

The NPY neurons are potent stimulators of appetite and upon activation by ghrelin they inhibit the POMC neurons by releasing the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA which inhibits the release of alpha MSH, an inhibitor of appetite.

Ghrelin also activates the release of AgRP which is an antagonist of the alpha MSH receptors MC3 and MC4, blocking alpha MSH from activating its receptor which inhibits appetite.

Mechanism of Action

Neuroendocrine regulation of central feeding and Growth hormone release

The Ghrelin Receptor: Growth hormone secretagogue Receptor (GHS-R1a)

Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand for GHS-R1a.

Ghrelin is a potent stimulator of growth hormone secretion from Anterior pituitary gland.

GHS-R1a is a 7 trans-membrane G protein coupled receptor.

Two isoforms of the GHS-R : GHS-R1a and GHS-R1b, but only the GHS-R1a isoform appears to functionally transduce ghrelin signaling .

Ghrelin receptors are expressed in a wide variety of tissues, including the pituitary, stomach, intestine, pancreas, thymus, gonads, thyroid, and heart.

Ghrelin Signaling

(Castaneda et al. 2010)

Binding of ghrelin to its receptor (GHSR) leads to an exchange of GDP for GTP in G q. The GTP-bound -subunit separates from G and recruits PLC to the α α βγ βmembrane, next to its substrate phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PI-4,5-P2 or PIP2). An enzymatic reaction ensues that lead to the formation of a soluble second messenger, inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and a membrane bound second messenger, diacylglycerol (DAG).

IP3 binds to its receptor and causes release of Ca2+ from ER. Intracellular free Ca2+ binds calmodulin (CaM), this binds to CaMkinase kinase (CaMKK) which acts as the activator of AMPK. This leads to phosphorylation and activation of Gtpase complex TSC1/TSC2.. Because of this, the small G-protein Rheb is kept in a resting (GDP-bound) state and this causes inactivation of the mTOR protein kinase. From here on matters are not yet investigated but inactivation of mTOR leads to an orexictic signal.

Ca2+-mediated inactivation of mTOR gives rise to an orectic (food-seeking) signal.

Ghrelin-mediated activation of AMPK leads to phosphorylation and inactivation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase. The ensuing lack of fatty acid synthesis and subsequent increase in -oxidation plays a role in the βgeneration of an orectic signal.

Ghrelin augments the firing rate of NPY, AgRP, GABA neurons and augments the production of AgRP/NPY (neurotransmitters). Subsequent GABA release reduces the firing rate of POMC neurons (hyperpolarization). Result : dominant activity of orexigenic neurons

Ghrelin in Diseased State• In obese individuals : Ghrelin concentrations in blood are reduced

compared to lean control subjects, but whether this is cause or effect is not defined.

• In patients with anorexia nervosa : Ghrelin concentartions in blood are higher than normal plasma ghrelin levels, which decrease if weight gain occurs.

• Prader-Willi syndrome is another disorder relevant to ghrelin science. Affected patients develop extreme obesity associated with uncontrollable and voracious appetite. The plasma ghrelin levels are exceptionally high in comparison to patients similarly obese due to other causes. Prader-Willi syndrome is clearly a complex disease with many defects; it may be that excessive ghrelin production contributes to the appetite and obesity components.

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