Ghrelin-mediated sympathoinhibition and suppression of inflammation in sepsis

Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2012 Feb 1;302(3):E265-72. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00508.2011. Epub 2011 Nov 8.

Abstract

Sepsis, a systemic inflammatory response to infection, continues to carry a high mortality despite advances in critical care medicine. Elevated sympathetic nerve activity in sepsis has been shown to contribute to early hepatocellular dysfunction and subsequently multiple organ failure, resulting in a poor prognosis, especially in the elderly. Thus, suppression of sympathetic nerve activity represents a novel therapeutic option for sepsis. Ghrelin is a 28-amino acid peptide shown to inhibit sympathetic nerve activity and inflammation in animal models of tissue injury. Age-related ghrelin hyporesponsiveness has also been shown to exacerbate sepsis. However, the mechanistic relationship between ghrelin-mediated sympathoinhibition and suppression of inflammation remains poorly understood. This review assesses the therapeutic potential of ghrelin in sepsis in the context of the neuroanatomical and molecular basis of ghrelin-mediated suppression of inflammation through inhibition of central sympathetic outflow.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use*
  • Catecholamines / metabolism
  • Drug Resistance
  • Ghrelin / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Multiple Organ Failure / etiology
  • Multiple Organ Failure / prevention & control
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Sepsis / drug therapy*
  • Sepsis / immunology
  • Sepsis / metabolism
  • Sepsis / physiopathology
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / drug effects*
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / metabolism
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / physiopathology
  • Sympatholytics / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Catecholamines
  • Ghrelin
  • Sympatholytics