Biochemistry of pituitary hormones Flashcards
What is growth hormone known for?
The primary hormone responsible for body growth
What happens if individuals do not make enough GH or have defective GH receptors?
They are short-statured
What is the other role of GH?
Regulate carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism. For instance, GH decreases fat and increases lean body mass
What is the anterior pituitary a site for?
Synthesis of several hormones
How are most anterior pituitary hormones synthesized?
By somatotropic cells located in the anterior pituitary gland, regulated by protein, POU1F1
How is acromegaly caused?
By pituitary tumors secreting excess growth hormone, over 95% of patients with acromegaly harbor a GH-secreting pituitary adenoma
What is acromegaly charcterised by?
Elevated levels of GH and Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)
What controls the secretions of GH?
- Somatostatin
- Ghrelin
- GH-releasing hormone
- Somatotroph-specific transcription factors (POU1F1)
- Insulin-like growth factor 1
How does IGF-1 control the synthesis and secretion of GH?
Through negative feedback control
Where is somatostatin produced?
In neurons of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus
What is the function of somatostatin?
Inhibition of GH secretion via a G protein-coupled somatostatin receptor on somatotrophs
When are somatostatin analogs the treatment of choice?
Somatostatin Analogs are the treatment of choice when:
1. Surgery is not curative
2. It is not possible because the patient is not a candidate for surgery or
3. There is a very low possibility of a complete surgical resection
4. Patient refuses surgery
What happens if SSA therapy is discontinued?
Recurrence will be present in 56% of cases after 12 to six 233ks of treatment withdrawal
What is Ghrelin?
A neuroendocrine peptide hormone that plays a role in important biological processes, such as growth hormone secretion and food intake
Which cells produce Ghrelin?
Mainly produced in the cells of the stomach but also in the ventromedial and arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus
How does Ghrelin work?
It stimulated GH secretion through its GH surface receptor (GHS-1aR), a GPCRq, to increase intracellular Ca2+ –> IP2 signal transduction pathway
Where is GHRH expressed?
In the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus
Where does GHRH exert its effect and what is it?
Exerts its effects on somatotroph proliferation and GH secretion via a G protein-coupled receptor, GHRHR, in the presence of pituitary-specific transcription factor POU1F1
What regulates protein kinase?
cAMP, the binding of 4 cAMP molecules activates the protein kinase by freeing catalytically active subunit
What does a mutation in GHRH cause?
Severe growth hormone deficiency in humans
What is growth hormone?
A single chain polypetide with a molecular mass of 21500 Da that contains 191 amino acids
What other hormone is Growth hormone structurally similar to?
Structurally similar to prolactin and placental hormone chorionic somatomammotropin, it has overlapping biological effects
What is the overall structure of Growth hormone similar to?
Similar to a group of cytokines, hormones, interleukins, and interferons
How is GH synthesized?
By somatotropic (acidophilic) cells of adenohypophysis and stored within intrcellular granules
What are the targets of GH?
Acts on multiple cell types, tissues and organs but for growth, its main targets are the liber and epiphyseal plated in long bones and spine
How id the GH effect mediated?
Mediated through its receptor, GHR, a transmembrane glycoprotein
What is GHR a member of?
GHR is a member of the class 1 hematopoietic cytokine receptor family which includes prolactin, erythropoitein and leptin receptors
What is the GH receptor family like?
It lacks intrinsic kinase activity and relies on associated tyrosine kinases for signal transduction following ligand binding
What is GHR like?
It exists as a homodimer in its non-ligates state and each GHR monomer is associated with one or more inactive kinase
What is the GHR signaling pathway like?
Signals through he JAK2 pathway, but can also activate downstream signaling via other non-receptor tyrosine kinases belonging to the SRC family kinases