Treatment of radiation injury using ghrelin
View Patent ↗Methods are disclosed for mitigating radiation injury to a subject by administration of ghrelin.
1. A method of treating radiation damage in a subject exposed to radiation therapy for treatment of a cancer comprising administering to the subject ghrelin in an amount effective to reduce radiation-induced intestinal epithelial cell death in a subject following exposure to radiation therapy for treatment of a cancer, wherein ghrelin administration to the subject begins within one day after exposure to radiation therapy.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the irradiation is whole or partial body irradiation.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ghrelin is human ghrelin.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein ghrelin has an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein administration of ghrelin to the subject restores radiation-induced reduced serum glucose and/or albumin levels.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein administration of ghrelin to the subject improves radiation-induced changes in intestinal integrity and morphology.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein administration of ghrelin to the subject attenuates radiation-induced increases in gut permeability.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein administration of ghrelin to the subject reduces radiation-induced loss in body weight.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radiation is ionizing irradiation.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein ghrelin is administered on a daily basis until symptoms of radiation-induced injury stabilize.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein ghrelin is administered once or twice a day for at least 3, 6 or more days.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein ghrelin is administered subcutaneously.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject does not have sepsis.