Recent advances in potential clinical application of ghrelin in obesity

Ghrelin is the natural ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (ghs-r1a). ghrelin is a 28 amino acid peptide possessing a unique acylation on the serine in position 3 catalyzed by ghrelin o-acyltransferase (goat). ghrelin stimulates growth hormone secretion,but also appetite,food intake,weight gain,and gastric emptying. ghrelin is involved in weight regulation,obesity,type 2 diabetes,and metabolic syndrome. furthermore,a better understanding of ghrelin biology led to the identification of molecular targets modulating ghrelin levels and/or its biological effects: goat,ghrelin,and ghs-r1a. furthermore,a recent discovery,showing the involvement of bitter taste receptor t2r in ghrelin secretion and/or synthesis and food intake,suggested that t2r could represent an additional interesting molecular target. several classes of ghrelin-related pharmacological tools for the treatment of obesity have been or could be developed to modulate the identified molecular targets. © 2012 christine delporte.