HWN Suggests

A new look at an old hormone gastrin

The origin of gastrin from the G cell has been identified, as have a number of mechanisms regulating both secretion and processing of the peptide. Little, however, is known of the intracellular regulation of processing and secretion. Gastrin receptors have been identified and cloned, although the exact relationship to the cholecystokinin receptor remains to be clarified. The gene for the peptide has been sequenced and various promoters identified. Up- and downstream sequences have been demonstrated to be interrelated with epidermal growth factor and somatostatin, and the existence of a complex gastric-based molecular regulatory system is apparent.

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Articles of Interest

Gastrin and the Moderate Hypergastrinemias

An important issue with gastrin is moderate hypergastrinemias as seen in Helicobacter pylori infections and during long-term proton-pump inhibitor treatment as described above. Such moderate hypergastrinemias are significant risk factors for the development of gastric adenocarcinomas...

Gastrin: From Physiology to Gastrointestinal Malignancies

Abetted by widespread usage of acid-suppressing proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), the mitogenic actions of the peptide hormone gastrin are being revisited as a recurring theme in various gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies.

Hypergastrinemia

Gastrin is an important hormone of the digestive system, which assists gastric acid secretion. It may be pathologically elevated in conditions such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, or due to common medications such as proton pump inhibitors. In this review we provide an overview of the pathophysiology and medical causes of hypergastrinemia, diagnostic testing and clinical consequences of chronic hypergastrinemia.

Old and New Gut Hormone, Gastrin and Acid Suppressive Therapy

Gastrin acts physiologically as a gut hormone to stimulate acid secretion after meal and as a cell-growth factor of oxyntic mucosa. Increase in serum gastrin level happens under various conditions including Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, antral G cell hyperplasia, autoimmune gastritis, atrophic gastritis, renal failure, vagotomy, Helicobacter pylori infection and acid suppressive therapy. As acid suppressive therapy causes hypergastrinemia, the association between acid suppressive therapy and gastric neuroendocrine cell tumor (NET) has been discussed during the past 30 years.

Upper G.I. Peptides — The Gastrin Story

There is, however, a great deal of versatility in the spectrum of activity of gastrin as compared to the dedicated but limited action of the other gut peptides, such as secretin or cholecystokinin.

Resources

StatPearls

Gastrin is a peptide hormone primarily responsible for enhancing gastric mucosal growth, gastric motility, and secretion of hydrochloric acid (HCl) into the stomach. It is present in G cells of the gastric antrum and duodenum. Gastrin is primarily released in response to vagal and gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) stimulation secondary to the ingestion of peptides, amino acids, gastric distention, and an elevated stomach pH.

You and Your Hormones

The production and release of gastrin is slowed by the hormone somatostatin, which is released by the pancreas when the stomach empties at the end of a meal, as well as when there is a drop in the pH levels of the stomach (when the stomach becomes more acidic).