Delta cells are somatostatin-producing cells. They can be found in the stomach, intestine and the pancreatic islets. Delta cells comprise ca 5% of the cells in the islets but may interact with many more islet cells than suggested by their low numbers. In rodents, delta-cells are located in the periphery of the islets; in humans the islet architecture is generally less organized and delta-cells are frequently observed inside the islets as well. In both species, the peptide hormone Urocortin III (Ucn3) is a major local signal that is released from beta cells to induce the local secretion of somatostatin. It has also been suggested that somatostatin may be implicated in insulin-induced hypoglycaemia through a mechanism involving SGLT-2 receptors. Ghrelin can also strongly stimulate somatostatin secretion, thus indirectly inhibiting insulin release. Viewed under an electron microscope, delta-cells can be identified as cells with smaller and slightly more compact granules than beta cells.
Somatostatin, also known as growth hormone-inhibiting hormone (GHIH) or by several other names, is a peptide hormone that regulates the endocrine system and affects neurotransmission and cell proliferation via interaction with G protein-coupled somatostatin receptors and inhibition of the release of numerous secondary hormones. Somatostatin inhibits insulin and glucagon secretion.
Alpha cells are endocrine cells that are found in the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Alpha cells secrete the peptide hormone glucagon in order to increase glucose levels in the blood stream.
Opioid receptors are a group of inhibitory G protein-coupled receptors with opioids as ligands. The endogenous opioids are dynorphins, enkephalins, endorphins, endomorphins and nociceptin. The opioid receptors are ~40% identical to somatostatin receptors (SSTRs). Opioid receptors are distributed widely in the brain, in the spinal cord, on peripheral neurons, and digestive tract.
An enkephalin is a pentapeptide involved in regulating nociception in the body. The enkephalins are termed endogenous ligands, as they are internally derived and bind to the body's opioid receptors. Discovered in 1975, two forms of enkephalin have been found, one containing leucine ("leu"), and the other containing methionine ("met"). Both are products of the proenkephalin gene.
Growth hormone–releasing hormone (GHRH), also known as somatocrinin or by several other names in its endogenous forms and as somatorelin (INN) in its pharmaceutical form, is a releasing hormone of growth hormone (GH). It is a 44-amino acid peptide hormone produced in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus.
Gi protein alpha subunit is a family of heterotrimeric G protein alpha subunits. This family is also commonly called the Gi/o family or Gi/o/z/t family to include closely related family members. G alpha subunits may be referred to as Gi alpha, Gαi, or Giα.
The urotensin-2 receptor (UR-II-R) also known as GPR14 is a class A rhodopsin family G protein coupled-receptor (GPCR) that is 386 amino acids long which binds primarily to the neuropeptide urotensin II.[1] The receptor quickly rose to prominence when it was found that when activated by urotensin II it induced the most potent vasoconstriction effect ever seen. While the precise function of the urotensin II receptor is not fully known it has been linked to cardiovascular effects, stress, and REM sleep.
Somatostatin receptor type 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SSTR2 gene.
Somatostatin receptor type 5 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SSTR5 gene.
Guanine nucleotide-binding protein G(i), alpha-1 subunit is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GNAI1 gene.
Somatostatin receptor type 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SSTR1 gene.
Shekel Somatostatin receptor type 3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SSTR3 gene.
Somatostatin receptor type 4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SSTR4 gene.
Melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1, also known as MCH1, is one of the melanin-concentrating hormone receptors found in all mammals.
Rhodopsin-like receptors are a family of proteins that comprise the largest group of G protein-coupled receptors.
Edotreotide (USAN, also known as (DOTA0-Phe1-Tyr3) octreotide, DOTA-TOC, DOTATOC) is a substance which, when bound to various radionuclides, is used in the treatment and diagnosis of certain types of cancer. When used therapeutically it is an example of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy.
SNED1 is an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein expressed at low levels in a wide range of tissues. The gene encoding SNED1 is located in the human chromosome 2 at locus q37.3. The corresponding mRNA isolated from the spleen and is 6834bp in length, and the corresponding protein is 1413 amino-acid long. The mouse ortholog of SNED1 was cloned in 2004 from the embryonic kidney by Leimester et al. SNED1 present domains characteristic of ECM proteins, including an amino-terminal NIDO domain, several calcium binding EGF-like domains (EGF_CA), a Sushi domain also known as complement control protein (CCP) domain, and three type III fibronectin (FN3) domains in the carboxy-terminal region.
MIA PaCa-2 is a human pancreatic cancer cell line used extensively in pancreatic cancer research and therapy development.
Lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide (INN) or 177Lu DOTA-TATE, trade name Lutathera, is a chelated complex of a radioisotope of the element lutetium with DOTA-TATE, used in peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). Specifically, it is used in the treatment of cancers which express somatostatin receptors.
