Ghrelin Gene Variants Influence on Metabolic Syndrome Components in Aged Spanish Population.

Background: The role of genetic variations within the ghrelin gene on cardiometabolic profile and nutritional status is still not clear in humans, particularly in elderly people.

Objectives: We investigated six SNPs of the ghrelin gene and their relationship with metabolic syndrome (MS) components.

Subjects And Methods: 824 subjects (413 men/411 women, age 77.

Human and experimental evidence supporting a role for osteopontin in alcoholic hepatitis.

Unlabelled: We identified, in the transcriptome analysis of patients with alcoholic hepatitis (AH), osteopontin (OPN) as one of the most up-regulated genes. Here, we used a translational approach to investigate its pathogenic role. OPN hepatic gene expression was quantified in patients with AH and other liver diseases.

Ghrelin attenuates hepatocellular injury and liver fibrogenesis in rodents and influences fibrosis progression in humans.

Unlabelled: There are no effective antifibrotic therapies for patients with liver diseases. We performed an experimental and translational study to investigate whether ghrelin, an orexigenic hormone with pleiotropic properties, modulates liver fibrogenesis. Recombinant ghrelin was administered to rats with chronic (bile duct ligation) and acute (carbon tetrachloride) liver injury.