Ghrelin protects small intestinal epithelium against sepsis-induced injury by enhancing the autophagy of intestinal epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Ghrelin is a hormone that protects against hypoxic injury of cardiac cells by inducing autophagy, but the role of autophagy in sepsis remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate whether ghrelin could enhance autophagy in rats with intestinal sepsis.

METHODS: The cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) method was used to induce sepsis in Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were assigned to four groups: normal group, sham-operated group, sepsis group, and Ghrelin-treated group. Sera and small intestinal tissues were collected from all groups. The sepsis was evaluated by histological analysis, and autophagy of small intestinal epithelial cells was assessed by electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, and biochemical methods.

RESULTS: The expression of autophagy-associated proteins such as LC3, Atg 7 and Beclin 1 increased by 8h post-CLP and declined to basal levels by 12h post-CLP. The expression of LC3, Atg 7 and Beclin 1 in Ghrelin-treated rats was higher than that in rats with sepsis. Furthermore, compared to rats with sepsis, Ghrelin-treated rats showed significantly reduced intestinal mucosa injury at 20h post-CLP.

CONCLUSION: Autophagy is induced in the early stages of sepsis. Ghrelin could enhance the autophagy of intestinal epithelial cells in rats with sepsis and protect the small intestinal epithelium against sepsis-induced injury.