Cortistatin (neuropeptide)

Cortistatin (pronounced: kor-tis-ta-tin) is a neuropeptide that shares significant structural and functional similarities with somatostatin. It was first discovered in the cerebral cortex of the brain, hence its name, which is derived from the Latin cortex meaning "bark" or "rind", and the Greek statos meaning "standing still".

Function

Cortistatin is primarily involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness cycles, inflammation, and learning and memory processes. It exerts its effects by binding to somatostatin receptors, particularly the subtype 2 (sst2) and subtype 4 (sst4) receptors.

Structure

Cortistatin is a 29-amino acid peptide that shares 11 residues with somatostatin. Despite their structural similarities, cortistatin and somatostatin have distinct tissue distributions and functions. Cortistatin is predominantly expressed in the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus, while somatostatin is widely distributed throughout the body.

Clinical Significance

Cortistatin has been implicated in several neurological and inflammatory diseases. It has been found to be overexpressed in certain types of cancer, including glioblastoma and colorectal cancer. In addition, cortistatin levels have been found to be altered in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, suggesting a potential role in the pathogenesis of these conditions.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Cortistatin (neuropeptide)
Wikipedia's article - Cortistatin (neuropeptide)

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