Description
Somatostatin receptor type 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SSTR2 gene. Somatostatin acts at many sites to inhibit the release of many hormones and other secretory proteins. The biologic effects of somatostatin are probably mediated by a family of G protein-coupled receptors that are expressed in a tissue-specific manner. SSTR2 is a member of the superfamily of receptors having seven transmembrane segments and is expressed in highest levels in cerebrum and kidney. Stable transfection of human pancreatic cells, which do not endogenously express SSTR2, inhibits cell proliferation, tumorigenicity, and metastasis. These effects occur as a consequence of an autocrine SSTR2-dependent loop, whereby SSTR2 induces expression of its own ligand, somatostatin. mRNA was variably expressed in all neuroblastoma tumors with a relevant reduction in the more advanced stage