Acylated and des acyl ghrelin in human portal and systemic circulations

Octanoylation of the gastric peptide ghrelin produces an active isoform that regulates appetite and other metabolic functions. Acylated ghrelin is present in the gastrointestinal tract suggesting that octanoylation may occur in these tissues and thereby affect the acylated ghrelin in the systemic circulation. In this study blood samples were collected simultaneously from portal, arterial, peripheral venous and central venous compartments from patients undergoing laparotomy. ELISA and high sensitivity Bioplex was used to measure the concentration of acylated and des acyl ghrelin. We found median (95% confidence interval (CI)) plasma acylated ghrelin (pg/ml) was 35.8 (30.0–59.6) in the portal compartment compared to 51.5 (37.6–74.8; P < 0.05, n = 11) in the arterial, 39.3 (33.3–56.3) in the portal compartment compared to 55.0 (48.5–77.0; P < 0.001, n = 12) in the peripheral venous and 36.0 (33.1–57.4) in the portal compartment compared to 48.9 (43.3–65.6; P < 0.01, n = 15) in the central venous compartment. Median (95% CI) plasma des acyl ghrelin levels (pg/ml) was 173 (125–220) in the portal compartment compared to 136 (99.3–125; P < 0.001, n = 14)in the arterial, 186 (136–233) in the portal compartment compared to 149 (111–190; P < 0.01, n = 15) in the peripheral venous and 171 (140–208) in the portal compartment compared to 152 (119–175; P < 0.01, n = 15) the central venous compartment. We conclude that plasma acylated ghrelin concentration was significantly lower in portal compared with the systemic compartments whilst plasma des acyl ghrelin was significantly higher in portal compared with systemic compartments. These findings suggest that the liver could be involved in the regulation of circulating ghrelin.     

Ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT) has a preference for n-hexanoyl-CoA over n-octanoyl-CoA as an acyl donor

Ghrelin is a peptide hormone in which serine 3 is modified by n-octanoic acid through GOAT (ghrelin O-acyltransferase). However, the enzymological properties of GOAT remain to be elucidated. We analyzed the in vitro activity of GOAT using the recombinant enzyme. Unexpectedly, although the main active form of ghrelin is modified by n-octanoic acid, GOAT had a strong preference for n-hexanoyl-CoA over n-octanoyl-CoA as an acyl donor. Moreover, a four-amino acid peptide derived from the N-terminal sequence of ghrelin can be modified by GOAT, indicating that these four amino acids constitute the core motif for substrate recognition by the enzyme.     

Obestatin, acylated and total ghrelin concentrations in the perinatal rat pancreas

BACKGROUND: Ghrelin and obestatin are encoded by the preproghrelin gene and originate from posttranslational processing of the preproghrelin peptide. The fetal rat pancreas contains acylated and desacylated ghrelin peptides, as well as growth hormone secretagogue receptor -1a mRNA. Acylated ghrelin inhibits insulin secretion. We investigated the plasma and tissue ontogeny of ghrelin and obestatin in the rat. METHODS: We measured obestatin and acylated and total ghrelin concentrations in plasma, pancreas and stomach from rat fetuses (F20) and neonates at postnatal day (PN) 1, 6, 12 and 21). RESULTS: Overall, obestatin concentrations were markedly lower than total ghrelin concentrations. In plasma, total ghrelin concentrations decreased abruptly after birth (p < 0.05), contrasting with a 3 times increase in the concentration of acylated ghrelin between F20 and PN1 (p < 0.05). In pancreas, total ghrelin and obestatin concentrations decreased progressively from PN1 to PN21 but acylated ghrelin concentrations increased 6-7 times from F20 (18 [6] pg/ml) to PN6 (122 [59] pg/ml). The percent of acylated ghrelin increased from 1.8 (0.6) at F20 to 39.7 (13.0) % of total ghrelin immunoreactivity at PN12 (p < 0.05). There were significant positive correlations between postnatal obestatin, acylated or total ghrelin and insulin concentrations in the pancreas (all p < 0.02, r(2) > 0.21) and between postnatal total ghrelin and obestatin (in pancreas, r(2) = 0.37) or acylated ghrelin (in stomach, r(2) = 0.27) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Ghrelin and obestatin are present in the perinatal pancreas where they could potentially affect insulin secretion.     

Structural divergence of human ghrelin. Identification of multiple ghrelin-derived molecules produced by post-translational processing

Ghrelin, a novel 28-amino acid peptide with an n-octanoyl modification at Ser(3), was isolated from rat stomach and found to be an endogenous ligand for the growth-hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R). This octanoyl modification is essential for ghrelin-induced GH release. We report here the purification and identification of human ghrelin from the stomach, as well as structural analysis of the human ghrelin gene and quantitation of changes in plasma ghrelin concentration before and after gastrectomy. Human ghrelin was purified from the stomach by gel filtration and high performance liquid chromatography, using a ghrelin-specific radioimmunoassay and an intracellular calcium influx assay on a stable cell line expressing GHS-R to test the fractions. In the course of purification, we isolated human ghrelin of the expected size, as well as several other ghrelin-derived molecules. Classified into four groups by the type of acylation observed at Ser(3); these peptides were found to be non-acylated, octanoylated (C8:0), decanoylated (C10:0), and possibly decenoylated (C10:1). All peptides found were either 27 or 28 amino acids in length, the former lacking the C-terminal Arg(28), and are derived from the same ghrelin precursor through two alternative pathways. The major active form of human ghrelin is a 28-amino acid peptide octanoylated at Ser(3), as was found for rat ghrelin. Synthetic octanoylated and decanoylated ghrelins produce intracellular calcium increases in GHS-R-expressing cells and stimulate GH release in rats to a similar degree. Both ghrelin and the ghrelin-derived molecules were found to be present in plasma as well as stomach tissue. Plasma levels of immunoreactive ghrelin after total gastrectomy in three patients were reduced to approximately half of their pre-gastrectomy values, after which they gradually increased. This suggests that the stomach is the major source of circulating ghrelin and that other tissues compensate for the loss of ghrelin production after gastrectomy.     

Ghrelin octanoylation by ghrelin O-acyltransferase: protein acylation impacting metabolic and neuroendocrine signalling

The acylated peptide hormone ghrelin impacts a wide range of physiological processes but is most well known for controlling hunger and metabolic regulation. Ghrelin requires a unique posttranslational modification, serine octanoylation, to bind and activate signalling through its cognate GHS-R1a receptor. Ghrelin acylation is catalysed by ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT), a member of the membrane-bound O-acyltransferase (MBOAT) enzyme family. The ghrelin/GOAT/GHS-R1a system is defined by multiple unique aspects within both protein biochemistry and endocrinology. Ghrelin serves as the only substrate for GOAT within the human proteome and, among the multiple hormones involved in energy homeostasis and metabolism such as insulin and leptin, acts as the only known hormone in circulation that directly stimulates appetite and hunger signalling. Advances in GOAT enzymology, structural modelling and inhibitor development have revolutionized our understanding of this enzyme and offered new tools for investigating ghrelin signalling at the molecular and organismal levels. In this review, we briefly summarize the current state of knowledge regarding ghrelin signalling and ghrelin/GOAT enzymology, discuss the GOAT structural model in the context of recently reported MBOAT enzyme superfamily member structures, and highlight the growing complement of GOAT inhibitors that offer options for both ghrelin signalling studies and therapeutic applications.     

Plasma nesfatin-1 concentrations in restricting-type anorexia nervosa

Restricting-type anorexia nervosa (AN-R) is characterized by chronic food restriction and severe emaciation due to various cognitive biases such as a distorted self-image. In spite of several treatments, AN-R continues to be a refractory disease because of its unknown pathogenesis. Although previous studies have shown that changes in feeding regulatory peptides such as ghrelin are involved in anorexia, few reports have described the relationship between AN-R and nesfatin-1, a recently identified satiety peptide. Therefore, we examined the plasma nesfatin-1 levels in AN-R patients to determine its role in AN-R. A total of 15 women participated in the study; 7 patients with AN-R and 8 age-matched healthy controls (average BMI, 13.02 ± 0.30 vs. 21.57 ± 0.48, respectively). Our results showed that plasma nesfatin-1 levels were significantly lower in AN-R group than in control group (6.23 ± 0.70 ng/ml vs. 8.91 ± 0.85 ng/ml, respectively, P < 0.05). Plasma acyl ghrelin and des-acyl ghrelin levels were significantly higher in AN-R group than in control group (acyl ghrelin: 62.4 ± 10.15 fmol/ml vs. 27.20 ± 5.60 fmol/ml, P < 0.01 and des-acyl ghrelin: 300.17 ± 55.95 fmol/ml vs. 107.34 ± 40.63 fmol/ml, P < 0.05). Although AN-R is associated with emaciation for a prolonged period, our result suggested that nesfatin-1 levels may be regulated by nutrition status and response to starvation.     

Acylated and unacylated ghrelin binding to membranes and to ghrelin receptor: Towards a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms

The O-octanoylation of human ghrelin is a natural post-translational modification that enhances its binding to model membranes and could potentially play a central role in ghrelin biological activities. Here, we aimed to clarify the mechanisms that drive ghrelin to the membrane and hence to its receptor that mediates most of its endocrinological effects. As the acylation enhances ghrelin lipophilicity and that ghrelin contains many basic residues, we examined the electrostatic attraction and/or hydrophobic interactions with membranes. Using various liposomes and buffer conditions in binding, zeta potential and isothermal titration calorimetry studies, we found that whereas acylated and unacylated ghrelin were both electrostatically attracted towards the membrane, only acylated ghrelin penetrated into the headgroup and the lipid backbone regions of negatively charged membranes. The O-acylation induced a 120-fold increase in ghrelin local concentration in the membrane. However, acylated ghrelin did not deeply penetrate the membrane nor did it perturb its organisation. Conformational studies by circular dichroism and attenuated total reflection Fourier transformed infrared as well as in silico modelling revealed that both forms of ghrelin mainly adopted the same structure in aqueous, micellar and bilayer environments even though acylated ghrelin structure is slightly more α-helical in a lipid bilayer environment. Altogether our results suggest that membrane acts as a “catalyst” in acylated ghrelin binding to the ghrelin receptor and hence could explain why acylated and unacylated ghrelin are both full agonists of this receptor but in the nanomolar and micromolar range, respectively.     

Hypophysectomy Prevents Ghrelin-Induced Adiposity and Increases Gastric Ghrelin Secretion in Rats

Objective: The novel gastric hormone ghrelin has recently been identified as an important modulator of energy homeostasis. Leptin-responsive hypothalamic neuropeptide Y/Agouti-related protein neurons are believed to mediate afferent ghrelin signals. Little is known, however, about ghrelin-induced efferent signals. We therefore investigated if hypothalamic-pituitary axes have a role in transferring ghrelin-induced changes of energy balance to the periphery. Research Methods and Procedures: We subcutaneously injected hypophysectomized, as well as adrenalectomized, thyroidectomized, and sham-operated control rats with GH secretagogues [ghrelin, growth hormone (GH)-releasing peptide] for 1 week. Body weight, food intake, and body composition (chemical carcass analysis) were analyzed and compared with vehicle-treated controls. In addition, we quantified circulating levels of endogenous ghrelin in hypophysectomized and GH–treated normal rats. Results: GH-secretagogue treatment of sham-operated control rats dose-proportionally increased food intake, body weight, and fat mass compared with vehicle-injected controls (p < 0.01). These effects, however, were not observed in ghrelin-treated hypophysectomized, thyroidectomized, or adrenalectomized rats, indicating an essential role for the pituitary axis in ghrelin-induced adiposity. Circulating levels of endogenous ghrelin were reduced by administration of GH in normal rats and were about 3-fold higher in hypophysectomized rats (n = 20, p = 0.001), suggesting a regulatory feedback loop involving the stomach and the pituitary to regulate gastric ghrelin secretion. Discussion: According to these results, the endocrine pituitary is mediating ghrelin-induced changes toward a positive energy balance and is involved in the regulation of ghrelin secretion through a gastro-hypophyseal feedback loop.     

Presence of adropin,nesfatin-1, apelin-12, ghrelins and salusins peptides in the milk,cheese whey and plasma of dairy cows

Biological fluids (milk and serum/plasma) and cheese whey milk-derived fluid contain numerous molecules, especially amino acids and proteins. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to find out whether cheese whey (n:6), cow milk (n:6) and its blood (n = 6) have adropin, nesfatin-1, apelin-12, ghrelins and salusin peptides. Adropin, nesfatin-1, apelin-12 concentrations were measured by ELISA, whereas ghrelin and salusin concentrations were measured by EIA methods. It was found that adropin, nesfatin-1, apelin-12, des-acylated ghrelin and salusins in cheese whey were higher than in the corresponding milk peptides and plasma of dairy cows, with the exception of salusin alpha and acylated ghrelin in milk being the same than that of the corresponding cheese whey concentration and plasma of dairy cows. A correlation was also found between milk peptides and cheese whey, as also with plasma of dairy cows. The data suggest that peptides in cow milk might be an important and nutritious food for (neonatal) calves and human diet due to their biological and physiological properties.     

Effect of Food Restriction on Ghrelin in Normal‐Cycling Female Rats and in Pregnancy

Objective: Ghrelin is a 28‐amino‐acid acylated peptide that was recently identified as the endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. Previous studies have shown that ghrelin potently increases growth hormone release and food intake. The aim of this study was to clarify the physiological implications of ghrelin in the regulation of energy balance, by assessing the effect of undernutrition throughout 21 days in normal‐cycling and pregnant rats on ghrelin. Research Methods and Procedures: We have determined ghrelin levels by radioimmunoassay and gastric ghrelin mRNA expression by Northern blot analysis during 21 days of chronic food restriction (30% of ad libitum available diet) in normal‐cycling female rats and in pregnancy. Results: Our results show that chronic food restriction led to an increase in plasmatic ghrelin levels in normal‐cycling female rats. In pregnancy, ghrelin plasmatic levels were enhanced particularly during the latter part of gestation (19 and 21 days) compared with pregnant rats with free access to food. Gastric ghrelin mRNA expression showed a similar expression pattern, being higher in the food‐restricted group than in the group fed ad libitum, in normal‐cycling as well as in pregnant rats. Discussion: These observations indicate that ghrelin plasmatic levels and ghrelin gastric mRNA are up‐modulated during undernutrition in normal‐cycling rats and in pregnancy. These findings suggest that increased ghrelin levels may have a role in mediating the physiological responses to undernutrition and could represent an adaptative response to prevent long‐lasting alterations in energy balance and body weight homeostasis.     

Somatostatin suppresses ghrelin secretion from the rat stomach

Ghrelin is an acylated peptide that stimulates food intake and the secretion of growth hormone. While ghrelin is predominantly synthesized in a subset of endocrine cells in the oxyntic gland of the human and rat stomach, the mechanism regulating ghrelin secretion remains unknown. Somatostatin, a peptide produced in the gastric oxyntic mucosa, is known to suppress secretion of several gastrointestinal peptides in a paracrine fashion. By double immunohistochemistry, we demonstrated that somatostatin-immunoreactive cells contact ghrelin-immunoreactive cells. A single intravenous injection of somatostatin reduced the systemic plasma concentration of ghrelin in rats. Continuous infusion of somatostatin into the gastric artery of the vascularly perfused rat stomach suppressed ghrelin secretion in both dose- and time-dependent manner. These findings indicate that ghrelin secretion from the stomach is regulated by gastric somatostatin.     

The antimicrobial activity of the appetite peptide hormone ghrelin

The present study examined the antimicrobial activity of the peptide ghrelin. Both major forms of ghrelin, acylated ghrelin (AG) and desacylated ghrelin (DAG), demonstrated the same degree of bactericidal activity against Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), while bactericidal effects against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) were minimal or absent, respectively. To elucidate the bactericidal mechanism of AG and DAG against bacteria, we monitored the effect of the cationic peptides on the zeta potential of E. coli. Our results show that AG and DAG similarly quenched the negative surface charge of E. coli, suggesting that ghrelin-mediated bactericidal effects are influenced by charge-dependent binding and not by acyl modification. Like most cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs), we also found that the antibacterial activity of AG was attenuated in physiological NaCl concentration (150mM). Nonetheless, these findings indicate that both AG and DAG can act as CAMPs against Gram-negative bacteria.     

Ghrelin, des-acyl ghrelin and obestatin: three pieces of the same puzzle

The major active product of ghrelin gene is a 28-amino acid peptide acylated at the serine 3 position with an octanoyl group, called simply ghrelin. Ghrelin has a multiplicity of physiological functions, affecting GH release, food intake, energy and glucose homeostasis, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, pulmonary and immune function, cell proliferation and differentiation and bone physiology. Nevertheless, recent developments have shown that ghrelin gene can generate various bioactive molecules besides ghrelin, mainly des-acyl ghrelin and obestatin, obtained from alternative splicing or from extensive post-translational modification. Although their receptors have not yet been identified, they have already proven to be active, having intriguingly subtle but opposite physiological actions to ghrelin. This suggests the existence of a novel endocrine system with multiple effector elements which not only may have opposite actions but may regulate the action of each other. In this review, we summarize the steps which lead to the production of the different ghrelin gene products and examine the most significant differences between them in terms of structure and actions.     

Ghrelin in the summer flounder: Immunolocalization to the gastric glands and action on plasma cortisol levels

We searched for evidence of the hormone ghrelin in the stomach of a juvenile, marine teleost, the summer flounder. Using antiserum against the conserved core of the ghrelin peptide, immunoreactivity was observed in the simple, branching epithelium that comprises the gastric glands. The immunoreaction was especially strong in the glandular epithelium located deep in the tissue. Next, we assessed a possible connection between ghrelin and the hypothalamic–pituitary–interrenal axis through a series of three injection experiments in which acylated or non-acylated (des-acyl) ghrelin was injected into the peritoneum of summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus). A significant increase in plasma cortisol relative to saline-injected controls was observed for the acylated form at a dose of 1000 ng g^? 1 of body mass in one of the experiments. In another, there was a trend for des-acyl ghrelin at 1000 ng g^? 1 of body mass to increase plasma cortisol. Taken together, this study provides evidence that gastric glands in the stomach of summer flounder are a site of ghrelin production and that peripherally administered ghrelin can stimulate the cortisol axis in a teleost.     

PARADOXICAL POST-EXERCISE RESPONSES OF ACYLATED GHRELIN AND LEPTIN DURING A SIMULATED NIGHT SHIFT

Approximately 10% of employees undertake night work, which is a significant predictor of weight gain, possibly because responses to activity and eating are altered at night. It is known that the appetite-related hormone, acylated ghrelin, is suppressed after an acute bout of exercise during the day, but no researcher has explored whether evening exercise alters acylated ghrelin and other appetite-related outcomes during a subsequent night shift. Six healthy men (mean?±?SD: age 30?±?8 yrs, body mass index 23.1?±?1.1?kg/m²) completed two crossover trials (control and exercise) in random order. Participants fasted from 10:00?h, consumed a test meal at 18:00?h, and then cycled at 50% peak oxygen uptake or rested between 19:00–20:00?h. Participants then completed light activities during a simulated night shift which ended at 05:00?h. Two small isocaloric meals were consumed at 22:00 and 02:00?h. Venous blood samples were drawn via cannulation at 1?h intervals between 19:00–05:00?h for the determination of acylated ghrelin, leptin, insulin, glucose, triglyceride, and non-esterified fatty acids concentrations. Perceived hunger and wrist actimetry were also recorded. During the simulated night shift, mean?±?SD acylated ghrelin concentration was 86.5?±?40.8 pg/ml following exercise compared with 71.7?±?37.7 pg/ml without prior exercise (p?=?0.015). Throughout the night shift, leptin concentration was 263?±?242 pg/ml following exercise compared with 187?±?221 pg/ml without prior exercise (p?=?0.017). Mean levels of insulin, triglyceride, non-esterified fatty acids, and wrist actimetry level were also higher during the night shift that followed exercise (p?<?0.05). These data indicate that prior exercise increases acylated ghrelin and leptin concentrations during a subsequent simulated night shift. These findings differ from the known effects of exercise on acylated ghrelin and leptin during the day, and therefore have implications for energy balance during night work. (Author correspondence: c.j.morris@2006.ljmu.ac.uk).     

Ghrelin can bind to a species of high density lipoprotein associated with paraoxonase

Ghrelin is a 28-residue peptide hormone that is principally released from the stomach during fasting and prior to eating. Two forms are present in human plasma: the unmodified peptide and a less abundant acylated version, in which octanoic acid is attached to the third residue, a serine, via an ester linkage. The acylated form of ghrelin acts as a ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor and can stimulate the release of growth hormone from the pituitary gland. It also initiates behavioral and metabolic adaptations to fasting. Here we show that an immobilized form of ghrelin specifically binds a species of high density lipoprotein associated with the plasma esterase, paraoxonase, and clusterin. Both free ghrelin and paraoxon, a substrate for paraoxonase, can inhibit this interaction. An endogenous species of ghrelin is found to co-purify with high density lipoprotein during density gradient centrifugation and subsequent gel filtration. This interaction links the orexigenic peptide hormone ghrelin to lipid transport and metabolism. Furthermore, the interaction of the esterified hormone ghrelin with a species of HDL containing an esterase suggests a possible mechanism for the conversion of ghrelin to des-acyl ghrelin.     

Neuroendocrine and metabolic activities of ghrelin gene products

Acylated ghrelin (AG) is a 28 amino acid gastric peptide a natural ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) receptor type 1a (GHS-R1a), endowed with GH-secreting and orexigenic properties. Besides, ghrelin exerts several peripheral metabolic actions, including modulation of glucose homeostasis and stimulation of adipogenesis. Notably, AG administration causes hyperglycemia in rodents as in humans. Ghrelin pleiotropy is supported by a widespread expression of the ghrelin gene, of GHS-R1a and other unknown ghrelin binding sites. The existence of alternative receptors for AG, of several natural ligands for GHS-R1a and of acylation-independent ghrelin non-neuroendocrine activities, suggests that there might be a complex ‘ghrelin system’ not yet completely explored. Moreover, the patho-physiological implications of unacylated ghrelin (UAG), and obestatin (Ob), the other two ghrelin gene-derived peptides, need to be clarified. Within the next few years, we may better understand the ‘ghrelin system’, where we might envisage clinical applications.     

EFFECT OF EXERCISE ON APPETITE-REGULATING HORMONES IN OVERWEIGHT WOMEN

Over the past decade, our knowledge of how homeostatic systems regulate food intake and body weight has increased with the discovery of circulating peptides such as leptin, acyl ghrelin, des-acyl ghrelin and obestatin. These hormones regulate the appetite and food intake by sending signals to the brain regarding the body''s nutritional status. The purpose of this study was to investigate the response of appetite-regulating hormones to exercise. Nine overweight women undertook two 2 h trials in a randomized crossover design. In the exercise trial, subjects ran for 60 min at 50% of maximal oxygen uptake followed by a 60 min rest period. In the control trial, subjects rested for 2 h. Obestatin, acyl ghrelin, des-acyl ghrelin and leptin concentrations were measured at baseline and at 20, 40, 60, 90 and 120 min after baseline. A two-way ANOVA revealed a significant (P < 0.05) interaction effect for leptin and acyl ghrelin. However, changes in obestatin and des-acyl ghrelin concentration were statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). The data indicated that although acute treadmill exercise resulted in a significant change in acyl ghrelin and leptin levels, it had no effect on plasma obestatin and des-acyl ghrelin levels.