Ghrelin, a recently described peptide, has attracted significant attention in recent years, primarily in the context of its endocrine- and appetite-regulating effects. The versatility of this peptide is manifested in a rapidly expanding body of literature highlighting its nonendocrine functions. This review summarizes the available data on the immunomodulatory as well as the non-immune-mediated effects of ghrelin that form the scientific basis of its role in critical illness.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.