Ghrelin in Focus: Dissecting Its Critical Roles in Gastrointestinal Pathologies and Therapies

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article entitled “Ghrelin in Focus: Dissecting Its Critical Roles in Gastrointestinal Pathologies and Therapies” reviews the physiological functions of Ghrelin and discussed its therapeutic potential in some diseases. The topic is somewhat old. The major concern is that the authors tried to highlight the therapeutic potential of ghrelin, but they did not clarify whether the therapeutics should use ghrelin itself or take it as a target. Most of the contents seem to be confusing regarding this issue. Besides, improper expressions can be found such as “Mechanisms of Ghrelin in the Treatment of GI Diseases”. The article should be revised by a native speaker. The name of the corresponding author is missing in the title page.

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The article should be revised by a native speaker. 

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The title should be changed to focus only ghrelin of gastrointestinal origin due to the already known multiple sources of ghrelin in the body, e.g., pancreas.

In the list of author names “and *” delete and.

Abstract: Ghrelin, synthesized in the stomach, influences diverse biological functions  … Since ghrelin has other important  sources, e.g., the pancreatic islets, this statement should be altered to avoid confusion from non-expert readers. Also refer to the ghrelin as a hormone here and delete from the next sentence. Authors are advised to reader this paper:

Grönberg M, Tsolakis AV, Magnusson L, Janson ET, Saras J. Distribution of obestatin and ghrelin in human tissues: immunoreactive cells in the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, and mammary glands. J Histochem Cytochem. 2008 Sep;56(9):793-801. doi: 10.1369/jhc.2008.951145. Epub 2008 May 12. PMID: 18474938; PMCID: PMC2516956.

Sakata I, Sakai T. Ghrelin cells in the gastrointestinal tract. Int J Pept. 2010;2010:945056. doi: 10.1155/2010/945056. Epub 2010 Mar 14. PMID: 20798855; PMCID: PMC2925405.

Jeffery PL, Herington AC, Chopin LK. The potential autocrine/paracrine roles of ghrelin and its receptor in hormone-dependent cancer. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2003 Apr;14(2):113-22. doi: 10.1016/s1359-6101(02)00089-8. PMID: 12651223.

In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ghrelin can be used as a serum marker. It also plays an important role in the development of IBD by influencing multiple biological processes. Merge the two sentences with second one to come first. By the way IBD affects mainly colon which is far from the stomach; that why I recommend a clear mentioning other sources of along the GIT.

In gastric cancer, ghrelin can be used as an early marker; end by full stop (.)

 … to play a significant beneficial role in the treatment of cancer cachexia associated with gastric and colorectal cancers. cancer cachexia > cachexia.

In GI surgery, different methods … methods > approaches.

Figure 1 is interesting. However, it needs to be altered. The position of this figure should be moved to section 2.1. Authors commented only on the left part of the figure (synthesis, release), but no description was seen for the right part of the figure. I understand that the two parts of the figure are related to each other’s, but readers might get confused. Another remark is the size of the target cells are disproportional to that of the secretory cells, please correct. By the way, please mark the two types of cells as indicated. Correct the sentence case of “Singal P”. Transcription and translation of GHRL produces: produce.

Figure 2. List the full names of BP, GH, and ACTH in the legend. The connecting lines between the human body parts and the side boxes has a shorth vertical dash, that frequently used to indicate blockage. Better to delete this dash from all lines.

Section 2.1. Synthesis of ghrelin should be elaborated. Wjich cells produce ghrelin in the gastric mucosa? and what are signals for its release? Please refer to these articles:

Tanaka-Shintani, M., Watanabe, M. Distribution of ghrelin-immunoreactive cells in human gastric mucosa: comparison with that of parietal cells. J Gastroenterol 40, 345–349 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-004-1550-3

Stengel A, Taché Y. Ghrelin - a pleiotropic hormone secreted from endocrine x/a-like cells of the stomach. Front Neurosci. 2012 Feb 16;6:24. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2012.00024. PMID: 22355282; PMCID: PMC3280431.

Yakabi K, Kawashima J, Kato S. Ghrelin and gastric acid secretion. World J Gastroenterol. 2008 Nov 7;14(41):6334-8. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.6334. PMID: 19009648; PMCID: PMC2766114.

Table 1. able 1Mechanisms by which ghrelin reduces GI damage from sepsis. Correct!

Section 5. Conclusions should be revised based on previously suggested corrections.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The English of this article needs minor improvements.

Author Response

"Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This revised article seems to be more readable than the last version. The authors tried to address my concerns, and I do not have any more suggestions.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Authors have considered my comments.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The English of the manuscript is acceptable.