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Somatostatin – Hormone, Function & Medical Use

Somatostatin is a naturally occurring hormone that inhibits the release of several other hormones. It plays a key role in regulating growth, digestion, and metabolism.

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Things worth knowing about "Somatostatin"

Somatostatin is a naturally occurring hormone that inhibits the release of several other hormones. It plays a key role in regulating growth, digestion, and metabolism.

What Is Somatostatin?

Somatostatin is an endogenous peptide hormone and neurotransmitter produced in various tissues throughout the human body. It belongs to the class of inhibitory hormones and regulates the secretion of numerous other hormones. The name is derived from the Greek word for body (soma) and the Latin term for standing still (stasis), reflecting its inhibitory action.

Somatostatin exists in two biologically active forms: somatostatin-14 (14 amino acids) and somatostatin-28 (28 amino acids). Both forms bind to specific receptors (SSTR1 through SSTR5) and exert their effects at those sites.

Sites of Production in the Body

Somatostatin is synthesized in several organs and tissues:

Hypothalamus: Somatostatin produced here inhibits the release of growth hormone (GH) from the pituitary gland.
Pancreas: The delta cells of the islets of Langerhans secrete somatostatin, which suppresses the release of both insulin and glucagon.
Gastrointestinal tract: In the stomach and small intestine, somatostatin regulates digestive functions and inhibits gastric acid secretion.
Central nervous system: As a neurotransmitter, somatostatin participates in signal transmission within the brain.

Mechanism of Action

Somatostatin exerts its effects through specific G protein-coupled receptors (SSTR1–5). Binding to these receptors inhibits adenylate cyclase, thereby lowering intracellular cAMP levels. In addition, voltage-dependent calcium channels are inhibited and potassium channels are opened, which collectively dampens cellular activity.

Biological Functions

Somatostatin fulfills a wide range of functions in the human body:

Inhibition of growth hormone (GH): In the hypothalamus, somatostatin suppresses GH release from the pituitary, thereby regulating body growth.
Inhibition of insulin and glucagon: In the pancreas, somatostatin reduces the secretion of both hormones, contributing to blood glucose regulation.
Inhibition of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): It indirectly influences thyroid function.
Regulation of digestion: It inhibits gastric acid production, intestinal motility, and the secretion of digestive enzymes.
Inhibition of gastrin, secretin, and cholecystokinin: These gut hormones are also modulated by somatostatin.

Medical Significance and Applications

Due to its very short half-life of approximately 1–3 minutes in the bloodstream, natural somatostatin has limited clinical utility. Instead, synthetic analogues such as octreotide, lanreotide, and pasireotide are used in clinical practice, as they have a significantly longer duration of action.

Medical Indications

Acromegaly: In this condition, a pituitary tumor causes excess growth hormone secretion. Somatostatin analogues effectively suppress GH overproduction.
Carcinoid tumors and neuroendocrine tumors (NETs): Somatostatin analogues relieve symptoms such as diarrhea and flushing and can inhibit tumor growth.
Gastrointestinal bleeding: Somatostatin and its analogues are used in the management of esophageal variceal bleeding and other gastrointestinal hemorrhages.
Pancreatitis: In acute pancreatitis, somatostatin can suppress enzyme production and may favorably influence disease progression.
Diagnostics: In somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (also known as Octreoscan), radiolabeled somatostatin analogues are used to detect and visualize neuroendocrine tumors using imaging techniques.

Somatostatinoma

A somatostatinoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor that produces excessive amounts of somatostatin. It most commonly arises in the pancreas or small intestine and causes a characteristic clinical syndrome due to hormone excess, including diabetes mellitus, gallstones, diarrhea, and steatorrhea (fatty stools). Treatment is primarily surgical and, where necessary, supplemented with medical therapy.

References

Reichlin S. - Somatostatin. New England Journal of Medicine, 1983; 309(24): 1495–1501.
Patel YC. - Somatostatin and its receptor family. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 1999; 20(3): 157–198.
Falconi M. et al. - ENETS Consensus Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Digestive Neuroendocrine Neoplasms. Neuroendocrinology, 2016; 103(2): 153–171.

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