ghrelin是新发现的一种胃肠多肽，具有强烈的促生长激素释放的作用。ghrelin及其受体在体内广泛表达，除具有增加摄食量及调节能量代谢的作用外，还具有抑制交感神经兴奋、抗凋亡、抗氧化、调节免疫炎症及自噬等多种组织非特异性稳态调节作用。近年研究显示，ghrelin还具有钙稳态调节、内皮保护、降血压、抗心肌缺血/再灌注损伤等心血管系统稳态调节作用。因此，ghrelin及受体后信号通路在心血管稳态维持、疾病的预防和治疗方面具有潜在的临床应用前景。

Ghrelin is a recently discovered small peptide released primarily from the stomach and reported to exert a strong growth hormone-releasing activity. Ghrelin and its receptors are widely distributed in the body. In addition to its well-known role in regulating metabolism and appetite, ghrelin has been proved to inhibit sympathetic excitation and proapoptotic cascades, protect against oxidative damage and modulateimmunity, inflammation and autophagy. Recent studies indicate that ghrelin has powerful cardiovascular protective effects such asregulating intracellular calcium concentration, protection of endothelial cells, decreasing blood pressure and ameliorating ischemia/reperfusion injury. Therefore, targeting the ghrelin receptor and ghrelin signaling hold great potential and clinical applications in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.