Somatostatin

1. Back Matter

   Pages 303-311

   PDF

Thirty years have passed since somatostatin was discovered and its hormonal function defined [1,2]. The wide range of anatomical distribution and actions of somatostatin and its receptors stimulated intense scientific and clinical interest, and fostered extensive research into all aspects of its biology including regulation of its gene expression, processing of its precursor, biological and cellular actions relating to regulation cell secretion, motility and proliferation. The development of metabolically stable peptide analogs helped define its usefulness in the treatment of endocrine diseases and cancer. The heterogeneity of somatostatin receptors recognized in 1981 [3] was later shown to result from the existence and variable expression of five distinct subtypes that constitutes two distinct subfamilies with distinguishing pharmacological characteristics [4,5]. The molecular cloning of these receptor subtypes reignited the interest in this field leading to a major increase in our insight into the biology of somatostatin and its receptor subtypes, and has led to the design and development of subtype-selective peptide and non-peptide agonists and antagonists. Significant progress has been made in both basic and clinical research on somatostatin. Noteworthy developments include the role of somatostatin in neuronal patterning, delineation of subtype-selective cytostatic / cytotoxic antiproliferative actions, manipulation of cellular signaling by oligomeric association of somatostatin receptor subtypes amongst themselves or with other G protein-coupled receptors, application of radionuclide-tagged derivatives to localize somatostatin receptor positive tumors and their treatment through targeted delivery of radionuclide or chemotoxin tagged agonists through receptor-mediated endocytosis.

• apoptosis
• biology
• cancer
• cell
• genetics
• hormones
• imaging
• physiology
• research
• tissue

"Since the discovery of somatostatin barely 30 years ago, the mechanism of action of this ubiquitous peptide has been rigorously investigated. This volume contains a comprehensive tour de force of advances in molecular, cellular, and physiologic aspects of somatostatin function and action, will be a useful resource for understanding current concepts of this hormone action, and also illuminates future directions for further investigation in this important area of peptide biology."
(Shlomo Melmed, M.D., Series Editor, Endocrine Updates)

• Department of Medicine, McGill University Heath Center, Montréal, Canada

  Coimbatore B. Srikant

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