Ghrelin protects against obesity-induced myocardial injury by regulating the lncRNA H19/miR-29a/IGF-1 signalling axis.

Background: Obesity is associated with the impairment of cardiac fitness and consequent ventricular dysfunction and heart failure. Ghrelin has been largely documented to be cardioprotective against ischaemia/reperfusion injury. However, the role of ghrelin in obesity-induced myocardial injury is largely unknown.