Somatrem, a compound vital in the world of medicine, has great significance in treatment for growth-related diseases and disorders.
Background of Somatrem
Somatrem was initially discovered in the 1980s by a team of scientists in the genetic engineering lab of a pharmaceutical company called Genentech, in San Francisco. Somatrem was made available as a recombinant form of growth hormone (GH) called methionyl human growth hormone (met-hGH) or Protropin®.
Somatrem gene locus is in the q22-24 region of chromosome 17. The mature hormone, somatrem, is produced from cleavage of signal peptide from the precursor, which contains 192 amino acids compared to 191 in endogenous human GH. This additional amino acid residue arises from the methionine added at the start of the sequence to allow expression in Escherichia coli, hence its alternative name met-hGH.
Somatrem Function
Somatrem mainly serves as an anabolic hormone. It is essential for growth and development in children, as it stimulates the production of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in the liver which, in turn, instigates cell growth and multiplication in several tissues. In adults, somatrem plays a vital role in regulating the body's metabolism, helping to break down fats and controlling the glucose level in the body.
Somatrem-related Signaling Pathways
Somatrem triggers the growth hormone receptor (GHR) signaling pathway leading to downstream effects like cell growth and proliferation, metabolism regulation, and survival.
Specifically, the Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) pathway is one major pathway involved in GH signaling. GH binding to its receptor activates JAK2, which phosphorylates and thereby activates STAT proteins. These proteins migrate to the nucleus to stimulate gene transcription, resulting in synthesis of IGF-1, stimulating cell growth and division.
Another related pathway triggered by somatrem is the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway. Phosphorylation of these proteins leads to cell division. The PI3K/AKT pathway is also activated by somatrem, which promotes cell survival and growth and plays a role in glucose metabolism.
Somatrem Related diseases and the role of Somatrem in Diseases
Somatrem, being an essential hormone for growth, highlights an important contribution to the understanding and treatment of growth disorders. Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in children is a significant disease aspect of its use where somatrem is administered to promote normal growth.
Conversely, excess GH can lead to a condition in adults known as acromegaly, characterized by enlarged extremities, with more extreme cases causing alterations to facial structure.
The Application of Somatrem in Medicine
Somatrem finds its predominant use in treating short stature caused by growth hormone deficiencies in children and Turner syndrome. Additionally, it has also been implicated in the treatment of catabolic states, such as in patients experiencing wasting due to AIDS.
List of drug candidates related to Somatrem
Following the success of somatrem, several other forms of recombinant human GH have been developed. These include:
Somatropin, a recombinant GH identical to the endogenous human GH.
Somatuline, a synthetic somatostatin analogue used for acromegaly treatments.
Norditropin, a biosynthetic GH primarily used for growth promotion in children with GH deficiency.
Genotropin, a recombinant human GH used in medicine to treat GHD in both children and adults.
In conclusion, Somatrem holds a pivotal role in understanding growth regulation and treating related disorders. The complex signaling pathways it triggers underline its significance in maintaining a well-regulated metabolic system and regulating growth throughout life. Its numerous related drugs also hold immense potential for furthering our understanding and treatment of diseases related to growth hormone deficiency or overexpression.