Review Article

Recent Advances in Potential Clinical Application of Ghrelin in Obesity

Figure 1

Synthesis, processing, and release of ghrelin by the human endocrine stomach P/D1 cells. Synthesis of ghrelin and acylation by GOAT occur in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Both acyl and des-acyl ghrelin are then secreted into the blood stream by fusion of secretory vesicles with the plasma membrane. Ghrelin secretion and/or acylation are upregulated following T2R activation. After secretion of acyl and/or des-acyl ghrelin, acyl ghrelin binds to specific GHS-R1a receptors. Pharmacological tools tried or currently developed are indicated and targeted GOAT, T2R, ghrelin, and GHS-R1a.
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