Today we're going to talk about a very strange and very important chemical messenger inside our bodies. Its name is somatostatin. You may not have heard of this name before. But did you know, it helps control many things in our bodies, like a secret mastermind. Let's take a look at what somatostatin is, how it works, and how important it is to our health.
What exactly is Somatostatin?
Simply put, somatostatin is a hormone produced in our body. Now you might be wondering what 'hormones' are. It's very simple. Hormones are chemicals that carry messages between different parts of our body. They're like 'postmen' in our body. These messages tell our organs, skin, and muscles to do something or to stop doing something.
So, this special hormone called somatostatin mainly stops the production of other hormones, controls some functions in our digestive system (gastrointestinal (GI) tract), and also controls the rapid division of cells (especially cancer cells). It's like a traffic cop, when something gets too much, he gives the signal, "Okay, okay, stop now."
Where is this somatostatin produced?
Now let's see where this amazing somatostatin hormone is produced in our body. It is actually produced in several places:
- Gastrointestinal (GI) tract: This is the long tube-like organ system that runs from the mouth to the anus that helps us digest the food we eat. This is where your intestines belong.
- Pancreas: This is a gland located inside our stomach. A gland is an organ that produces certain chemicals. The pancreas produces enzymes that help digest food, as well as important hormones such as insulin and glucagon .
- Hypothalamus: This is located in our brain. It is like the 'control center' of our body. It helps maintain homeostasis (i.e., maintaining a stable internal environment). It also gives commands to the pituitary gland, which is located below the hypothalamus, to release certain hormones.
- Central Nervous System (CNS): This includes our brain and spinal cord. It is through this nervous system that messages are sent from the brain to the rest of the body.
Other names for somatostatin
Somatostatin is also known by several other names. If your doctor mentions one of these names, they are probably referring to the same thing:
- SS, SST or SOM
- Growth hormone inhibitory hormone (GHIH)
- Somatotropin release -inhibiting factor (SRIF)
- Somatotropin release -inhibiting hormone (SRIH)
Is somatostatin also used as a medicine?
Yes, sometimes, doctors use synthetic somatostatin as a medicine to treat certain diseases. For example:
- Certain gastrointestinal diseases
- Acromegaly is a rare condition in which the body produces too much growth hormone .
- Some types of cancer called neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) .
- Some other endocrine system (i.e., the glandular system that produces hormones) diseases.
What are the main functions of the hormone somatostatin?
Okay, now let's see what the main function of this somatostatin hormone is.
Simply put, its main job is to stop the production of other hormones produced by our endocrine system and to control the release of certain secretions from the exocrine system.
The 'endocrine system' refers to the system that secretes hormones from glands in our body directly into the blood. Examples include the thyroid gland, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands . The 'exocrine system' refers to the system that releases the products made by the glands through a duct. Examples include the salivary glands and sweat glands .
So, just like turning off a water tap, somatostatin temporarily stops the flow of some hormones and secretions that our body doesn't need. Just think, if you just leave a water tap open, water is wasted, right? Similarly, if the body produces more hormones than it needs, problems can arise. Somatostatin controls that.
Another thing is that somatostatin also helps stop cells from dividing abnormally rapidly, such as cancer cells.
It also acts as a neurotransmitter in our central nervous system (CNS). A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger that one nerve cell (neuron) releases to influence another cell.
How somatostatin affects different parts of our body
Now let's see how somatostatin affects each part of our body:
- In the hypothalamus: Somatostatin stops the release of hormones produced by our pituitary gland, such as growth hormone , thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) , and prolactin .
- In the pancreas: Here, it inhibits the release of pancreatic hormones such as insulin , glucagon, and gastrin . It also controls the release of pancreatic enzymes that help digest food.
- In the digestive system (GI tract): It reduces gastric secretions, which are stimulated when we eat. It also limits the release of digestive hormones like secretin and gastrin .
- In the central nervous system (CNS): Here, it contributes to changing the way messages are transmitted through nerves (neurotransmission) and the way memories are formed.
What causes somatostatin release?
Okay, so now you're probably wondering, 'How is this somatostatin released? What causes it?' To be honest, scientists still don't fully understand how our bodies control the release of this somatostatin, and what tissues trigger its release. So far, it's been discovered that a number of different cell types and proteins are involved.
One study has revealed that glucose , our body's main source of energy, not only controls the release of somatostatin, but also contributes to its production. In that study, scientists observed that when blood glucose levels are low, insulin stimulates the release of somatostatin (i.e., stops insulin production), and when blood glucose levels are high , glucagon stimulates the release of somatostatin (i.e., stops glucagon production).
In other words, since insulin lowers blood sugar levels, when your blood sugar is low, somatostatin is released to prevent it from dropping any lower, to stop the release of insulin. It's amazing how things are controlled in our bodies, isn't it?
Somatostatin-related problems and conditions
Usually, major problems with somatostatin are rare. But the main condition that does occur is a very rare type of cancer called somatostatinoma . This is a tumor that develops in the endocrine system. This tumor develops in the pancreas or the digestive system (GI tract). This causes the production of somatostatin in excess.
This condition, called somatostatinoma, can occur randomly, or it can be associated with certain genetic syndromes . Some of these conditions are:
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN type 1): This is also a very rare, genetic condition. In this condition, multiple tumors develop in different parts of the endocrine system.
- Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1): This is also a hereditary condition. It causes café-au-lait spots and benign tumors on the skin.
- Von Hippel-Lindau disease: This is also a rare hereditary condition. It can cause benign or malignant tumors to form in the brain, spinal cord, eyes, kidneys, pancreas, and adrenal glands.
When somatostatin is produced excessively, the production of many other endocrine hormones is drastically reduced. The symptoms of this can be similar to the symptoms of many other diseases. Therefore, it can sometimes be difficult to accurately diagnose a condition called somatostatinoma.
The important thing is that these somatostatin-related problems are extremely rare , meaning that most people have nothing to worry about.
Also, there have been very few reports of lower-than-normal levels of somatostatin in a person's body.
What tests check somatostatin levels?
Because somatostatin-related problems are so rare, doctors don't usually test everyone's somatostatin levels. However, if there is a suspicion of a rare tumor that produces too much somatostatin called a somatostatinoma, as mentioned earlier, a blood test called somatostatin-like-immunoreactivity (SLI) is used to identify it.
When should I see a doctor about my somatostatin levels?
You usually don't have to worry about your somatostatin levels, as there are very few problems related to this.
However, if a close family member (parent or sibling) has been diagnosed with a condition such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN type 1), neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), or Von Hippel-Lindau disease, it is important to tell your doctor. Because these are inherited conditions, you may also be at risk of developing somatostatinoma. Your doctor can then perform tests to see if you have the condition.
The most important things to remember (Take-Home Message)
Okay, so, here are the most important things you need to remember from what we've talked about today:
- Somatostatin is a 'master' hormone that plays a very important role in our body, controlling other hormones.
- It mainly controls things like the production of other hormones, the functioning of the digestive system, and the rapid division of cells.
- Problems with somatostatin are usually very rare. The main problem is a rare tumor called somatostatinoma.
- If anyone in your family has genetic conditions like MEN type 1, NF1, or Von Hippel-Lindau disease , talk to your doctor about it.
- Don't be afraid of this for nothing. It's important to be aware of these amazing systems in our bodies.
So, somatostatin is a silent, but very important, agent in our bodies. As long as it's doing its job properly, we have nothing to fear!
` Somatostatin, Somatostatin, Hormone, Pancreas, Hypothalamus, Digestive System, Somatostatinoma, Somatostatinoma, GHIH, Endocrine System, Cancer
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