Ghrelin: An emerging new anticonvulsant neuropeptide

Abstract

SUMMARYNeuropeptides appear to be of importance when the central nervous system (CNS) is challenged, such as during high-frequency firing and pathologic conditions. Potential advantages of treatments that target neuropeptide systems in comparison to classical neurotransmitter systems and ion channels revolve around the subject of efficacy as well as the reduced likelihood of side effects, thus making them attractive candidates for the development of new clinical applications for various disorders. The number of neuropeptides linked to epilepsy is on the rise, reflecting the increased interest of researchers in this domain. Ghrelin has only very recently been introduced into the field of epilepsy, and has already led to contradictory clinical publications. There is a great paucity with regard to what mechanism of action is utilized by ghrelin to inhibit seizures. In this review we disclose how we can better understand the mechanism ghrelin uses to prevent seizures, which indirectly could give an insight to researchers who are studying ghrelin in other fields of research.

MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Ghrelin: the differences between acyl- and des-acyl ghrelin

“…Furthermore, the majority of animal studies on this subject demonstrate that ghrelin has anticonvulsant properties, but very little is known about the mechanisms by which ghrelin inhibits seizures. A recent valuable review by Portelli et al addresses possible mechanisms of action for both AG (and DAG) in the prevention of seizures and indirectly gives an insight into modes of action of these peptides for researchers studying ghrelin in other fields of research (45).…”

Inactivation of the Constitutively Active Ghrelin Receptor Attenuates Limbic Seizure Activity in Rodents

“…Moreover, ghrelin presents a number of benefits as an anticonvulsant drug [63]. Ghrelin, as well as selective GHSR agonists, are capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier [64], which enables peripheral administration in humans.…”

Ghrelin Gene Products in Acute and Chronic Inflammation

“…Beside its role in feeding and energy homeostasis, ghrelin exerts also an extensive array of other biological activities such as cardio-protection and the enhancement of cardiac function (Baldanzi et al 2002;Nagaya et al 2004), pro-kinetic actions on gastric motility (Chen and Tsai 2012), and neuronal activities (Raimondo et al 2013), including those on sleep (García-García et al 2014), epilepsy (Portelli et al 2012), and learning and memory (Beck and Pourié 2013).…”