Ghrelin and Obesity: Identifying Gaps and Dispelling Myths. A Reappraisal

Structure of Ghrelin

Ghrelin was discovered in 1999. It exerts its orexigenic action is through its relation to specific hypothalamic receptors. It is an acylated peptide, composed of 28 amino acids which is an endogenous ligand to the secretagogue receptors of growth hormone (5). It is secreted primarily by endocrine cells of the oxyntic glands of the gastric fundus and to a lesser extent by the body of the stomach, the mucosa of the duodenum and jejunum, the lungs, the urogenital organs, and the pituitary gland. The enzyme ghrelin O-acyltransferase performs octanoylation of the inactive form in order to produce the active one, attaching an acyl side chain to the serine residue at position 3. This chain is critical both for the orexigenic and the gastric-emptying actions of ghrelin (9). Its discovery has shed new light on many physiological functions. Among the several actions of this peptide in the human body, ranging from its involvement in the regulation of the immune and cardiovascular systems to the up-regulation of insulin-like growth factor, it has a dominant role in the gastrointestinal system, with involvement in gastric emptying and intestinal motility (10-14).

Ghrelin and Appetite

The exact role of ghrelin in the pathophysiology of obesity is still under investigation; a well-defined explanation and understanding of the initiation of appetite by the increase in the level of ghrelin could be revolutionary and create new ways for the management or even the ‘treatment’ of obesity. In a number of studies it has been reported that postprandial suppression of ghrelin is lower in obese groups compared to controls with normal body mass index (BMI); this is a reasonable and novel approach to the higher consumption of food by the obese as obese individuals still have the sense of hunger even after the consumption of a meal. The same finding has also been documented in obese children, supporting the ‘disease pattern’ of obesity which has underlying mechanisms and causes like other common disorders. Based on this scenario, the problem becomes the overproduction of ghrelin regardless of the consumption of food rather than insensitivity or oversensitivity to ghrelin (4, 15-17). The reasons for this could be many, ranging from a dysfunction in the gene for ghrelin to the production of antibodies to the receptors of peptides which antagonize the effects of ghrelin, leading to disturbances in the production and actions of ghrelin. Although studies at the molecular level do not exist, the design of studies comparing the active ghrelin level along with the appetite scored with the visual analogue scale, between matched obese and lean subjects could give many answers.

Ghrelin and Diets

As mentioned before, many studies have reported that the mean serum ghrelin level is generally lower in obese patients compared to lean individuals (4, 18, 19). The level of ghrelin increases during dieting and this could explain why it is very difficult to achieve long-term results from dieting. Diets and dietary-induced weight loss have been linked with an increase of ghrelin level in the blood, which could potentially explain the high failure rates of diets (18, 20, 21).

Ghrelin and Bariatric Surgery

Researchers have recently tried to explain the impressive results of bariatric surgery in terms of weight loss by evaluating the changes in ghrelin concentration following roux-en-y gastric bypass (RYGB) and especially sleeve gastrectomy (SG). In the latter procedure, the gastric fundus, where most ghrelin is produced, is totally removed. A recent meta-analysis showed that the ghrelin level does fall significantly following SG (16). In patients who undergo RYGB, the results of various studies are contradictory (21-24).

Both these techniques lead to exceptionally good results in weight loss. Based on the fact that anatomically SG is purely restrictive compared to RYGB, which additionally creates malabsorption by the rapid shunt of undigested food to the distal small intestine, the role of ghrelin is now being investigated more than ever. Perhaps the additional mechanism of reduced appetite post SG, due to the significant lowering of the ghrelin level, can ‘counterbalance’ the lack of the effect of malabsorption which occurs only with RYGB not with SG. However, studies which have tried to evaluate the appetite of patients following bariatric surgery with measures such as the visual analogue scale score, standard tools for measuring subjective appetite sensations and the motivation to eat are extremely rare. In the randomized control trial of Karamanakos et al., 16 patients with a mean BMI of 45.1 kg/m² underwent SG and were compared with 16 matched patients with a mean BMI of 46.6 kg/m² who underwent RYGB (25). A significant drop in the BMI [postoperative BMI of 28.9 kg/m² (p<0.001) and 31.5 kg/m² (p<0.001), respectively, in the two groups] was accompanied by a significant decrease of the fasting plasma ghrelin level in the SG- but not in the RYGB-treated group, where an increase in the fasting plasma ghrelin level was noted. Interestingly, the appetite in the SG group remained below 50% of the initial preoperative score; on the contrary, the appetite in the RYGB-treated group had partially recovered by the end of the 12-month follow-up.

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Figure 1.

The role of ghrelin in obesity.

Ghrelin and Anorexia

Due to the proven relationship of ghrelin with appetite, researchers are also investigating the potential connection of ghrelin to anorexia. Insight into the modification of the endogenous ghrelin system seems to be promising not only for the control of obesity, but also for the management of clinically significant anorexia and pathological weight reduction. Accumulating evidence has shown that in patients with anorexia nervosa, there is a paradoxical increase in plasma ghrelin level even when compared with matched controls or obese patients (26), suggesting that there might be an insensitivity to ghrelin (27). Moreover, in vitro studies have documented that intra-peritoneal or systemic administration of ghrelin has the potential to improve the appetite and the nutritional status, and at the same time reduce the metabolic rate in patients with end-stage cancer (5).

Figure 1 summarizes the role of ghrelin in the development of obesity.

Limitations of Studies Investigating Ghrelin

There are several limitations in investigating ghrelin. First of all, there is a very small number of studies and RCTs. Moreover, there are two forms of circulating ghrelin, inactive ghrelin (90%), and active acylated ghrelin (10%) (15, 16). However, in none of the published studies did the authors measure the active form, total ghrelin was usually measured (16). Moreover, the active form of ghrelin has been reported to be unstable at room temperature, making exact measurement even more challenging (16, 17). Finally, the lack of standardization in measurement of ghrelin levels in terms of timing of sample collection, collection method, follow-up period, storage of samples, and radioimmunoassays used could be an issue in the precision and reproducibility of the results (16, 17). Table I summarizes the advantages and obstacles in using ghrelin as therapeutic target in obesity.