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Pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor as an acute phase reactant
1Second Department of Surgery, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Clinical Biochemistry
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI) is an acute phase reactant that significantly increases with stress. New findings suggest PSTI may function as a growth-stimulating hormone, promoting cell growth and DNA synthesis.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI) is an acute phase reactant in serum.
- PSTI levels elevate significantly in response to surgical stress or invasion.
- The increase in PSTI surpasses that of previously known acute phase reactants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential physiological function of PSTI beyond its role as an acute phase reactant.
- To explore PSTI's role in cellular processes like DNA synthesis and cell growth.
Main Methods:
- Serum analysis to measure PSTI levels.
- In vitro studies using human fibroblasts to assess PSTI's effect on DNA synthesis.
- Cell culture experiments to evaluate PSTI's binding specificity and its impact on endothelial cell growth.
Main Results:
- Human PSTI was found to stimulate DNA synthesis in human fibroblasts.
- PSTI demonstrated specific binding to various cultured cells.
- PSTI, or a similar polypeptide, stimulated the growth of endothelial cells.
Conclusions:
- PSTI exhibits properties suggesting a novel physiological role.
- PSTI may act as a growth-stimulating hormone, influencing cell proliferation and tissue repair.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the full physiological significance of PSTI.