[Somatostatin - an important inhibitor of neuronal activity].
Many neuropeptides are involved in the processing of painful stimuli but a peptide of particular interest is somatostatin ("somatotropin release-inhibiting factor", SRIF). The physiological effects of SRIF are mediated by five SRIF receptors (sst receptors) which belong to the family of G protein-coupled receptors. All sst receptors inhibit the adenylate cyclase and open K(+)-channels, which leads to a decrease of neuronal excitability and decreases the secretion of neuropeptides or hormones. Many animal experimental data show that activation of sst receptors leads to a reduction of pain behaviour. Because SRIF also reduces important immune functions its effects on chronic inflammatory diseases, for example rheumatoid arthritis, have been extensively examined. Because SRIF only has a very short half-life, many SRIF analogues were synthesized. The first clinical study which documents an effectiveness of octreotide in the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis showed that this peptide has a significant therapeutic potential and opens new possibilities for the reduction of pain and inflammation.
Segond von Banchet
G
G
Institut für Physiologie I (Neurophysiologie), Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Teichgraben 8, 07740, Jena, Deutschland. Gisela.SegondvonBanchet@mti.uni-jena.de
D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015282:Octreotide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin / Q000502:physiology; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin; D013004:Somatostatin; D015282:Octreotide