In the H4-II-E-cells (rat hepatoma cell line) and HepG2 cells (human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line) ghrelin was shown to stimulate insulin receptor substrate 1o(IRS1) and its downstream molecules, including growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). The gene discussed is WNK2; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.