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Clinical Research on the Ghrelin Axis and Alcohol Consumption

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Central Functions of the Ghrelin Receptor

Part of the book series: The Receptors ((REC,volume 25))

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Abstract

Ghrelin, a 28 amino acid orexigenic peptide mainly produced by the stomach, is the endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (ghrelin receptor) and regulates a number of physiological processes including energy homeostasis, appetite, gut motility, anxiety, sleep, cardiovascular functions, and inflammation. In addition, preclinical studies demonstrate ghrelin’s involvement in reward signaling by its actions in the mesolimbic dopaminergic system, which may enhance the incentive value of food and alcohol rewards. In recent years, clinical studies on alcohol-dependent individuals and healthy controls show that acute and chronic alcohol consumption, as well as abstinence from alcohol, may significantly alter blood ghrelin levels. A positive significant correlation between blood ghrelin levels and alcohol craving has also been reported in alcohol-dependent subjects. Furthermore, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within genes encoding ghrelin, i.e., the preproghrelin gene (GHRL), and the ghrelin receptor, i.e., growth hormone secretagogue receptor gene (GHSR), have been associated with alcohol drinking behaviors and other phenotypic variables related to alcohol dependence; however, these studies need to be replicated in a larger cohort of individuals before strong conclusions can be drawn. In summary, growing, albeit preliminary, human evidence suggests that targeting the ghrelin signaling system may offer a novel pharmacotherapeutic approach for reducing alcohol craving and use in patients with alcohol use disorders.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the NIH Intramural Research Programs of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section on Clinical Psychoneuroendocrinology and Neuropsychopharmacology, NIAAA and NIDA National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive (10CRC/15330) MSC 1108, Room 1-5429, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1108, USA

    Allison A. Feduccia & Lorenzo Leggio

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  1. Allison A. Feduccia
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  2. Lorenzo Leggio
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Correspondence to Lorenzo Leggio .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

    Jeanelle Portelli

  2. Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

    Ilse Smolders

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Feduccia, A.A., Leggio, L. (2014). Clinical Research on the Ghrelin Axis and Alcohol Consumption. In: Portelli, J., Smolders, I. (eds) Central Functions of the Ghrelin Receptor. The Receptors, vol 25. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0823-3_8

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