Met-Enkephalin

• Molecular Formula: C27H35N5O7S
• Molecular Weight: 573.66 g/mol
• Sequence: H-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-OH

DESCRIPTION

In 1975, Met-Enkephalin (ME) was first isolated from porcine brain matter. ME is an endogenous pentapeptide with antagonist activity at the μ and δ opioid receptors. It is one of two forms of enkephalin, the other form being leu-enkephalin. Essentially, this peptide functions as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator in the central nervous system (CNS). Opioid receptors play a role in numerous physiological processes in the body including pain mediation, opiate dependence, and euphoria. ME acts as a cytokine, a small secreted protein released by cells which have a specific effect on the interactions and communications between cells, and has demonstrated to increase immune functions at low concentration while suppressing at high concentration.

In addition, ME behaves as an opioid growth factor (OGF) on many cell types as a receptor that is distinct from the neural opioid receptors. OGF activates a specific receptor called the opioid growth factor receptor (OGFr or ζ -opioid receptor). The OGF and OGFr axis regulates cell growth in normal and abnormal cells. It has been concluded that ME could potentially be used as a drug to treat cancer and work as a strong immune booster. Modulation of the OFG-OGFr receptor axis represents a promising and therapeutic avenue for effective treatment such as cancer (hepatoblastoma, breast, colon, renal, ovarian, pancreatic, melanoma and many others), autoimmune encephalomyelitis, and multiple sclerosis. Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) actually functions by increasing endogenous levels of enkephalins. As a result, it is postulated that Met-enkephalin can also be used as an alternative to LDN.

PROTOCOL

• Content & Potency: 10mg Lyophilized Vial
• Suggested dosage: 10mg IV once weekly

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Opioid growth factor improves clinical benefit and survival in patients with advanced pancreatic Cancer

Background: Advanced pancreatic cancer carries the poorest prognosis of all gastrointestinal malignancies. Once the tumor has spread beyond the margins of the pancreas, chemotherapy is the major treatment modality offered to patients; however, chemotherapy does not significantly improve survival.

Objective: Opioid growth factor (OGF; [Met5]- enkephalin) is a natural peptide that has been shown to inhibit the growth of pancreatic cancer in cell culture and in nude mice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of OGF biotherapy on subjects with advanced pancreatic cancer who failed chemotherapy.

Methods: In a prospective phase II open-labeled clinical trial, 24 subjects who failed standard chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer were treated weekly with OGF 250 μ g/kg intravenously. Outcomes measured included clinical benefit, tumor response by radiographic imaging, quality of life, and survival.

Results: Clinical benefit response was experienced by 53% of OGF-treated patients compared to historical controls of 23.8% and 4.8% for gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil 5-FU), respectively. Of the subjects surviving more than eight weeks, 62% showed either a decrease or stabilization in tumor size by computed tomography. The median survival time for OGF-treated patients was three times that of untreated patients (65.5 versus 21 days, p 0.001). No adverse effects on hematologic or chemistry parameters were noted, and quality of life surveys suggested improvement with OGF.

Here are some useful URLs where you can find information about Met-enkephalin:

• The National Library of Medicine’s PubMed database contains numerous research articles on Met-enkephalin, covering topics such as its role in pain modulation, its potential use as a therapeutic agent, and its interactions with other opioid receptors: Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Met-enkephalin

These resources should provide a good starting point for anyone interested in learning more about Met-enkephalin and its role in pain regulation and stress response.

Met-Enkephalin Research

Met-Enkephalin is a naturally occurring peptide that acts as an endogenous opioid and is involved in the regulation of pain perception and other physiological processes.

There have been numerous studies conducted on Met-Enkephalin, investigating its effects on pain relief, addiction, mood regulation, and other areas of research. Here are a few examples of research studies involving Met-Enkephalin:

1. Met-enkephalin and dynorphin A-(1-17) enhance the efficacy of morphine antinociception in mice. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1728318
2. The effect of Met-enkephalin on depressive-like behavior in mice. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29389014
3. The role of Met-enkephalin in the modulation of addiction. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25302480
4. Met-enkephalin improves cognitive function in aged mice. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25385456
5. Met-enkephalin stimulates growth hormone release in rats. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6091467

It is important to note that the use of Met-Enkephalin or any other peptide for therapeutic purposes should be done under the guidance of a healthcare professional.