GHRP-6 · research summary

Ghrelin Receptor Blockade Restricts Hepatic Echinococcus granulosus Infection by Suppressing Host Cell Proliferation and Enhancing Fibrotic Encapsulation.

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

Study type

Interventional study in mice with hepatic Echinococcus granulosus infection
“In this study, mice with hepatic E.g infection were intraperitoneally injected with ghrelin protein and the GHSR antagonist [D-Lys3]-GHRP-6 for 90 days, and the related molecular and pathological indexes were detected and analyzed.”

Subjects

Mice with hepatic Echinococcus granulosus infection
“In this study, mice with hepatic E.g infection were intraperitoneally injected with ghrelin protein and the GHSR antagonist [D-Lys3]-GHRP-6 for 90 days, and the related molecular and pathological indexes were detected and analyzed.”

Duration

90 days
“In this study, mice with hepatic E.g infection were intraperitoneally injected with ghrelin protein and the GHSR antagonist [D-Lys3]-GHRP-6 for 90 days, and the related molecular and pathological indexes were detected and analyzed.”

Reported findings

Ghrelin treatment increased serum ghrelin levels and upregulated hepatic ghrelin/GHSR expression.
“Compared with untreated E.g-infected mice, ghrelin treatment increased serum ghrelin level and upregulated hepatic and lesion-perilesional ghrelin/GHSR expression.”
Ghrelin treatment elevated proliferation markers and inhibited the TGF-β1/Smad3 fibrotic pathway.
“Ghrelin further elevated the expression of proliferation markers (Ki67, PCNA, Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E1), inhibited the activation of the hepatic TGF-β1/Smad3 fibrotic pathway, reduced the levels of α-SMA, Collagen Ⅰ and Collagen Ⅲ, and ultimately promoted hepatic E.g infection progression.”
GHSR antagonist intervention decreased ghrelin levels, downregulated proliferation proteins, and activated the fibrotic pathway.
“In contrast, [D-Lys3]-GHRP-6 intervention decreased serum ghrelin and hepatic ghrelin/GHSR levels, downregulated the expression of cell proliferation-related proteins, activated the TGF-β1/Smad3 fibrotic pathway, increased fibrotic protein expression, and effectively alleviated the progression of hepatic E.g infection.”

Source: PubMed 42799941 · DOI 10.1007/s11686-026-01407-w · all study summaries

Study type

Interventional study in mice with hepatic Echinococcus granulosus infection

“In this study, mice with hepatic E.g infection were intraperitoneally injected with ghrelin protein and the GHSR antagonist [D-Lys3]-GHRP-6 for 90 days, and the related molecular and pathological indexes were detected and analyzed.”

Reported findings

Ghrelin treatment increased serum ghrelin levels and upregulated hepatic ghrelin/GHSR expression.

“Compared with untreated E.g-infected mice, ghrelin treatment increased serum ghrelin level and upregulated hepatic and lesion-perilesional ghrelin/GHSR expression.”

Ghrelin treatment elevated proliferation markers and inhibited the TGF-β1/Smad3 fibrotic pathway.

“Ghrelin further elevated the expression of proliferation markers (Ki67, PCNA, Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E1), inhibited the activation of the hepatic TGF-β1/Smad3 fibrotic pathway, reduced the levels of α-SMA, Collagen Ⅰ and Collagen Ⅲ, and ultimately promoted hepatic E.g infection progression.”

GHSR antagonist intervention decreased ghrelin levels, downregulated proliferation proteins, and activated the fibrotic pathway.

“In contrast, [D-Lys3]-GHRP-6 intervention decreased serum ghrelin and hepatic ghrelin/GHSR levels, downregulated the expression of cell proliferation-related proteins, activated the TGF-β1/Smad3 fibrotic pathway, increased fibrotic protein expression, and effectively alleviated the progression of hepatic E.g infection.”