Ghrelin plasma levels, gastric ghrelin cell density and bone mineral density in women with rheumatoid arthritis

Role and molecular mechanism of ghrelin in degenerative musculoskeletal disorders

Ghrelin is a brain-gut peptide, and the first 28-peptide that was found in the gastric mucosa. It has a growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone-like effect and can potently promote the release of GH from pituitary GH cells; however, it is unable to stimulate GH synthesis. Therefore, ghrelin is believed to play a role in promoting bone growth and development. The correlation between ghrelin and some degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system has been reported recently, and ghrelin may be one of the factors influencing degenerative pathologies, such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, sarcopenia and intervertebral disc degeneration. With population ageing, the risk of health problems caused by degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system gradually increases. In this article, the roles of ghrelin in musculoskeletal disorders are summarized to reveal the potential effects of ghrelin as a key target in the treatment of related bone and muscle diseases and the need for further research.

Protective effects of brain-gut peptides against intestinal barrier injury and mechanisms involved

Brain-gut peptides, a group of small molecule polypeptides, have been found to distribute widely in the brain and the gastrointestinal system and act as both neurotransmitters and hormones. Intestinal barrier injury has a serious impact on the prognosis of critical diseases. Brain-gut peptides can modulate tight junction proteins, promote epithelial cell proliferation, and inhibit apoptosis and inflammatory cytokines, thus playing an important role in the maintenance of intestinal barrier and mucosal immunity. In this review, we discuss the protective effects of brain-gut peptides against intestinal barrier injury and the underlying mechanisms.