Ghrelin is an Osteoblast Mitogen and Increases Osteoclastic Bone Resorption In Vitro

Ghrelin is released in response to fasting, such that circulating levels are highest immediately prior to meals. Bone turnover is acutely responsive to the fed state, with increased bone resorption during fasting and suppression during feeding. The current study investigated the hypothesis that ghrelin regulates the activity of bone cells. Ghrelin increased the bone-resorbing activity of rat osteoclasts, but did not alter osteoclast differentiation in a murine bone marrow assay nor bone resorption in ex vivo calvarial cultures. Ghrelin showed mitogenic activity in osteoblasts, with a strong effect in human cells and a weaker effect in rat osteoblasts. The expression of the human ghrelin receptor, GHSR, varied among individuals and was detectable in 25–30% of bone marrow and osteoblast samples. However, the rodent Ghsr expression was undetectable in bone cells and cell lines from rat and mouse. These data suggest that elevated levels of ghrelin may contribute to the higher levels of bone turnover that occurs in the fasted state.