Review
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World J Diabetes. Jun 15, 2014; 5(3): 328-341
Published online Jun 15, 2014. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v5.i3.328
Interrelationships between ghrelin, insulin and glucose homeostasis: Physiological relevance
François Chabot, Alexandre Caron, Mathieu Laplante, David H St-Pierre
François Chabot, David H St-Pierre, Département de Kinanthropologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal (Québec), H3C3P8, Canada
Alexandre Caron, Mathieu Laplante, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Québec (Québec), G1V 4G5, Canada
Author contributions: Chabot F and Caron A have both equally contributed to the design and the redaction of the manuscript; Laplante M has participated to the redaction and the review of the manuscript; and St-Pierre DH has supervised the paper, participated in the redaction and the review of the paper.
Supported by Fonds de Recherche du Québec en Santé (to Laplante M and St-Pierre DH); Operating grants from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and Diabète Québec; Laplante M also holds operating grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canadian Liver Foundation and the Fondation de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec
Correspondence to: David H St-Pierre, PhD, Professor, Département de Kinanthropologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, 141 Ave Président-Kennedy, Montréal (Québec), H3C3P8, Canada. st-pierre.david_h@uqam.ca
Telephone: +1-514-9873000 Fax: +1-514-9876616
Received: December 9, 2013
Revised: February 8, 2014
Accepted: May 8, 2014
Published online: June 15, 2014
Processing time: 189 Days and 0.3 Hours
Abstract

Ghrelin is a 28 amino acid peptide mainly derived from the oxyntic gland of the stomach. Both acylated (AG) and unacylated (UAG) forms of ghrelin are found in the circulation. Initially, AG was considered as the only bioactive form of ghrelin. However, recent advances indicate that both AG and UAG exert distinct and common effects in organisms. Soon after its discovery, ghrelin was shown to promote appetite and adiposity in animal and human models. In response to these anabolic effects, an impressive number of elements have suggested the influence of ghrelin on the regulation of metabolic functions and the development of obesity-related disorders. However, due to the complexity of its biochemical nature and the physiological processes it governs, some of the effects of ghrelin are still debated in the literature. Evidence suggests that ghrelin influences glucose homeostasis through the modulation of insulin secretion and insulin receptor signaling. On the other hand, insulin was also shown to influence circulating levels of ghrelin. Here, we review the relationship between ghrelin and insulin and we describe the impact of this interaction on the modulation of glucose homeostasis.

Keywords: Acylated ghrelin; Unacylated ghrelin; Insulin secretion; β-cell functions; Insulin receptor signalling; Glucose homeostasis

Core tip: The present invited review intends to summarize the current knowledge on the relationships between ghrelin, insulin and glucose homeostasis in cellular, animal and human models.