Role of Ghrelin  in development and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

The incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease( NAFLD) has been increasing in China year by year,and NAFLD has become the second most common liver disease after viral hepatitis. Its development is closely associated with insulin resistance and oxidative stress and NAFLD is one of the important components of metabolic syndrome. Ghrelin is a newly discovered endogenous ligand for growth hormone secretagogue and has broad biological functions. Ghrelin not only affects the metabolic process of glucose and lipids,but also plays an important role in the development and progression of NAFLD. In this review,the role of endogenous Ghrelin expression in the development and progression of NAFLD is briefly summarized and the Ghrelin regulation in the development and progression of NAFLD is pointed out,which will provide new approaches to the clinical treatment of NAFLD.