Lipopolysaccharide differentially decreases plasma acyl and desacyl ghrelin levels in rats: potential role of the circulating ghrelin-acylating enzyme GOAT

Peptides. 2010 Sep;31(9):1689-96. doi: 10.1016/j.peptides.2010.06.015. Epub 2010 Jun 25.

Abstract

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rodents is an established model for studying innate immune responses to gram-negative bacteria and mimicking symptoms of infections including reduced food intake associated with decreased circulating total ghrelin levels. The ghrelin-acylating enzyme, ghrelin-O-acyltransferase (GOAT) involved in the formation of acyl ghrelin (AG) was recently identified. We investigated changes in circulating AG, desacyl ghrelin (DG) and GOAT induced by intraperitoneal LPS (100 microg/kg) and associated changes in food intake. Plasma AG and total ghrelin were assessed by radioimmunoassay, GOAT protein by Western blot and mRNA by RT-qPCR. DG was derived from total minus AG. Plasma AG and DG were decreased at 2, 5 and 7 h (p<0.01) post-injection compared to vehicle and recovered at 24 h. At 2 h there was a significantly greater decrease of AG (-53%) than DG (-28%) resulting in a decreased AG/DG ratio (1:5, p<0.01), which thereafter returned to pre-injection values (1:3). This altered ratio was associated with a 38% decrease in plasma GOAT protein compared to vehicle (p<0.001), whereas gastric GOAT protein was slightly increased by 10% (p<0.05). GOAT mRNA expression was unchanged. Food intake was reduced by 58% measured during the 1.5-2 h period post-LPS injection. Decreased plasma AG and DG preceded the rise in rectal temperature and blood glucose that peaked at 7 h. These data indicate that LPS induces a long-lasting reduction of AG and DG levels that may have a bearing with the decrease in food intake. The faster drop in AG than DG within 2 h is associated with reduced circulating GOAT.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acute-Phase Reaction / physiopathology
  • Acyltransferases / blood*
  • Acyltransferases / genetics
  • Acyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Appetite Regulation
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Blotting, Western
  • Body Temperature
  • Down-Regulation*
  • Gastric Mucosa / metabolism
  • Ghrelin / blood*
  • Helicobacter Infections / physiopathology
  • Lipopolysaccharides / toxicity*
  • Male
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Ghrelin
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • RNA, Messenger
  • ghrelin, des-n-octanoyl
  • Acyltransferases
  • ghrelin O-acyltransferase, rat