SHEFFIELD, England, Sept. 6 (UPI) – British researchers have developed a long-acting growth hormone that reduces the need for daily therapy treatments.
Most hormones and cytokines used today have a short life, requiring frequent therapeutic injections. But the new technology developed at the University of Sheffield means scientists and clinicians will be able to generate effective, long-acting hormones that promote growth during a minimum 10-day period with one injection.
The researchers said the technology might also be used to treat inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis, cancer and metabolic maladies.
However, the scientists cautioned the research is only in its early stages and any drugs resulting from the study are several years away from approval.
The research is detailed in the journal Nature Medicine.
Copyright 2007 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
[quote]Schwarzenegger wrote:
The research is detailed in the journal Nature Medicine.
Copyright 2007 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.[/quote]
This is a recombinant fusion protein. What they did was fuse the growth hormone to the outer “part” of it’s natural receptor. It is genetically engineered, then put into cell culture. When the cells have grown up shitloads of this protein, it is harvested, purified, and injected into rats.
Since this protein is bigger than the natural form, the body clears it more slowly, like over 10 days. This particular fusion hasn’t been tested in humans yet.
This type of protein therapeutics has been used over the past 10 years with some success in treating cancer, both solid tumors and leukemias.
The downside of it is, after a while (could be weeks or months) patients develop resistance and/or inflammation. Our bodies don’t like protein variants, so they launch an attack.