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Ghrelin and Blood Pressure Regulation

  • Hypertension and Metabolic Syndrome (J Sperati, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Ghrelin is a growth hormone-releasing polypeptide that was first isolated from the rat stomach in 1999. High expression of growth hormone secretagogue receptor, the ghrelin receptor, in the heart, kidney, and blood vessels provides evidence of ghrelin activity in blood pressure regulation. Circulating ghrelin concentrations are reported to be inversely correlated with blood pressure, and the acute and chronic effects of ghrelin in decreasing blood pressure have been reported in animals with normal blood pressure, healthy individuals, animals and patients with heart failure, and animals with hypertension. The mechanism by which ghrelin regulates blood pressure appears to be related to modulation of the autonomic nervous system, direct vasodilatory activities, and kidney diuresis. Thus, modulation of the signaling pathway through ghrelin may provide a novel concept for treating hypertension. In this review, we discuss the current evidence and potential mechanisms of ghrelin activity in blood pressure regulation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Akron General Medical Center, Cleveland Clinic Affiliate, Akron, OH, 44307, USA

    Yuanjie Mao

  2. Department of Biochemistry, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565, Japan

    Yuanjie Mao & Takeshi Tokudome

  3. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, 5-7-1 Fujishiro-dai, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565, Japan

    Ichiro Kishimoto

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  1. Yuanjie Mao
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  2. Takeshi Tokudome
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  3. Ichiro Kishimoto
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Correspondence to Ichiro Kishimoto.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Hypertension and Metabolic Syndrome

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Mao, Y., Tokudome, T. & Kishimoto, I. Ghrelin and Blood Pressure Regulation. Curr Hypertens Rep 18, 15 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-015-0622-5

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