GHRP-6 · research summary

The Ghrelin/GHSR-1a Axis Attenuates Preeclampsia-like Features with Decidual Macrophage Reprogramming and Improved Placental Remodeling.

Biomolecules · 2026. Summary drawn from the study's full text. Each statement is followed by the exact sentence it comes from. This is a research summary, not medical advice.

Study type

Prospective observational case-control study in humans and an LPS-induced PE-like rat model
“A prospective observational case–control study was conducted at the Shanghai Fifth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University from June 2025 to December 2025.”

Subjects

22 singleton pregnant women (10 healthy, 12 with preeclampsia) and 24 pregnant Sprague Dawley rats
“A total of 22 singleton pregnant women who underwent cesarean section were enrolled, including 10 healthy pregnant women (control group) and 12 PE patients, including 7 cases of mild PE and 5 cases of severe PE.”

Sample size

22 human participants and 24 rats divided into four groups of six
“A total of 24 healthy pregnant Sprague Dawley rats with a body weight of 220–250 g and gestational day 0 (GD0) confirmed by vaginal plug detection were purchased from the Experimental Animal Center of Fudan University (Shanghai, China) and randomly divided into four groups (n = 6 per group) using a random number table method”

Duration

Human study conducted from June 2025 to December 2025; rat interventions from gestational day 5 to 20
“A prospective observational case–control study was conducted at the Shanghai Fifth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University from June 2025 to December 2025.”

Reported findings

Ghrelin and GHSR-1a expression in decidual tissues was upregulated in a severity-dependent manner in PE patients
“Among PE patients, the severe PE group exhibited significantly higher expression of Ghrelin and GHSR-1a than the mild PE group (both p < 0.0001).”
Exogenous Ghrelin reversed LPS-induced hypertension, proteinuria, and fetal growth restriction in rats
“Co-administration of Ghrelin with LPS reversed the LPS-induced hypertension, reducing both DBP and SBP to control levels.”
Ghrelin modulated decidual macrophage markers by downregulating CD86 and upregulating CD163
“Ghrelin co-treatment significantly attenuated LPS-induced M1 polarization: CD86 expression was significantly downregulated, and CD163 expression was restored to control levels (Figure 6(C1–C4)), reducing pro-inflammatory macrophage infiltration and favoring an anti-inflammatory immune profile.”

Limitations stated by the authors

Small clinical sample size, restriction to cesarean section patients, lack of pan-macrophage markers, and use of an acute rat model that does not fully replicate chronic human PE
“First, the clinical sample size is relatively small (n = 22), and although post-hoc power analysis confirmed sufficient statistical power for key indicators, the results still need to be validated by large-sample, multi-center prospective studies.”

Source: PubMed 42352276 · DOI 10.3390/biom16060809 · all study summaries

Subjects

22 singleton pregnant women (10 healthy, 12 with preeclampsia) and 24 pregnant Sprague Dawley rats

“A total of 22 singleton pregnant women who underwent cesarean section were enrolled, including 10 healthy pregnant women (control group) and 12 PE patients, including 7 cases of mild PE and 5 cases of severe PE.”

Sample size

22 human participants and 24 rats divided into four groups of six

“A total of 24 healthy pregnant Sprague Dawley rats with a body weight of 220–250 g and gestational day 0 (GD0) confirmed by vaginal plug detection were purchased from the Experimental Animal Center of Fudan University (Shanghai, China) and randomly divided into four groups (n = 6 per group) using a random number table method”

Reported findings

Ghrelin and GHSR-1a expression in decidual tissues was upregulated in a severity-dependent manner in PE patients

“Among PE patients, the severe PE group exhibited significantly higher expression of Ghrelin and GHSR-1a than the mild PE group (both p < 0.0001).”

Exogenous Ghrelin reversed LPS-induced hypertension, proteinuria, and fetal growth restriction in rats

“Co-administration of Ghrelin with LPS reversed the LPS-induced hypertension, reducing both DBP and SBP to control levels.”

Ghrelin modulated decidual macrophage markers by downregulating CD86 and upregulating CD163

“Ghrelin co-treatment significantly attenuated LPS-induced M1 polarization: CD86 expression was significantly downregulated, and CD163 expression was restored to control levels (Figure 6(C1–C4)), reducing pro-inflammatory macrophage infiltration and favoring an anti-inflammatory immune profile.”

Limitations stated by the authors

Small clinical sample size, restriction to cesarean section patients, lack of pan-macrophage markers, and use of an acute rat model that does not fully replicate chronic human PE

“First, the clinical sample size is relatively small (n = 22), and although post-hoc power analysis confirmed sufficient statistical power for key indicators, the results still need to be validated by large-sample, multi-center prospective studies.”