Ghrelin and the brain-gut axis as a pharmacological target for appetite control.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of pharmacological targets without systematic review methodology or new human data.
PubMed 22236122 · doi:10.2174/138161212799277806
What was done
This narrative review examined appetite regulation pathways, focusing on the ghrelin axis as a pharmacological target for obesity. The authors reviewed strategies targeting circulating ghrelin (via mirror-image oligonucleotides/Spiegelmers and immunotherapy), the ghrelin receptor (growth hormone secretagogue receptor antagonists and inverse agonists), and the activating enzyme ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT).
What was found
No quantitative findings or empirical measurements were reported in the abstract. The authors conceptually evaluated pharmacological targets and noted that GOAT inhibitors may circumvent issues associated with directly targeting ghrelin or its receptor.
Why it matters
It outlines pharmacological entry points along the ghrelin axis to guide the development of appetite-suppressing therapeutics for obesity.
Limits
The abstract provides no empirical data, statistical findings, or human clinical trial results. As a narrative review, it lacks systematic search criteria and quantitative synthesis.
Cited by
- supports Ghrelin is the only gut-derived hormone that stimulates hunger.