Humulin antidiabetic drug based on recombinant human insulin. How are drugs in this class, and what is their effect on the body?
- HUMULIN: HELP
- HOW DOES INSULIN
- WHAT IS RECOMBINANT HUMAN INSULIN
- HOW TO GET RECOMBINANT INSULIN
Humulin: help
Humulin drug based on recombinant human insulin that is used to maintain homeostasis of blood glucose. The main action of insulin is regulation of glucose metabolism. In addition, insulin also has an impact on a number of anabolic and catabolic processes in different tissues. In particular, in muscle tissue is enhanced product of glycogen, fatty acids, glycerol and proteins. Insulin increases amino acid absorption with simultaneous inhibition of glycogenolysis (breakdown of glycogen to glucose), gluconeogenesis, lipolysis, ketogenesis, protein catabolism and release of amino acids.
How does insulin
Insulin is a pancreatic hormone that the body uses to regulate blood sugar levels. It is the only hormone in the body, which is aimed at reducing the concentration of glucose in the blood. How it works?
The body’s cells on their surface have insulin receptors, which specifically binds insulin. When a hormone is contacted with the receptor, the cell is able to absorb the circulating blood glucose, which is needed as fuel for the cells. In this case carry the glucose into the cells special proteins GLUT. To date, identified 6 varieties of these transport proteins, but scientists do not exclude that there are many more.
When the concentration of blood sugar in the beta cells of the pancreas the signal on the stimulation of insulin production. Insulin goes into the bloodstream, binds to cells, which open for entry inside the glucose, so the sugar level in the blood is reduced. If insulin is insufficient, for whatever reasons, it means that less of the cells in the body will be ready to absorb glucose. In this scenario, the level of sugar in the blood, developing diabetes, leading to the development of characteristic disease symptoms.
The first experiments on insulin in dogs
What is recombinant human insulin
In 1921, a talented biochemist James Collip managed to clear insulin isolated from pancreatic juice of animals. And already in 1922, the 11th of January was made the world’s first injection of insulin 14-year-old Leonard Thompson, who suffered with diabetes. However, this attempt failed because the insulin was not purified and cause allergies. Scientist continue to work on cleaning, and after 12 days, Leonard introduced a second dose of insulin. This time the treatment was successful. The teenager has not noted the occurrence of side effects, and diabetes mellitus ceased to progress.
Since then began a new era in the treatment of diabetes of the first type, because the disease was considered fatal. Just a few months people lived with progressive diabetes of the first type, but with the advent of insulin, they were able to live a full life to old age.
Insulin for injection is isolated from the body of cows or pigs. This insulin is effective, however human he is slightly different (several amino acids), and some patients on this insulin may develop allergies. With the advent of methods of genetic engineering managed to obtain recombinant human insulin which is identical to the hormone produced in the pancreas in humans.
The scheme of obtaining
How to get recombinant insulin
How to produce the drug Humulin and its analogues containing recombinant human insulin? As you know, insulin is a peptide (protein), which means that it is encoded by the genes defined. Genes with read information form a copy of the gene (messenger RNA), which is out of the cell nucleus out into the cytoplasm. Then in the cytoplasm in an mRNA sit molecular machines ribosomes, which read the information from the RNA, and on the basis of the read code synthesize insulin.
In the 70-ies of the last century, actively began to develop genetic engineering. Scientists have discovered the world of plasmids circular DNA of bacteria, which proved to be an excellent tool for genetic technologies. It turned out that in this very circular DNA, we can insert any gene from any other organism, after which the bacteria begin to produce the protein that is encoded by this gene. How is that done?
To start special enzymes restriction enzymes cut the desired gene or genes (e.g., genes encoding a peptide chain of insulin). These same restriction enzymes in a specific location cut plasmids (circular DNA). Then these two ingredients are mixed with other chemicals under certain conditions. So there is bonding us gene cut with the circular DNA of bacteria. Circular DNA closes again in the ring, but with the new genetic information of additional genes, coding for human insulin. Then, the resulting DNA is inserted into bacteria (under certain conditions plasmids penetrate inside the cell). After this procedure the obtained bacteria with new plasmid are grown in large quantities for obtaining human insulin. At present, therefore, produce insulin in E. coli or yeast.
The drug is Humulin made by the above technology. It is a recombinant human insulin that is identical in composition to the insulin produced by human pancreas. Produced product in the form of suspensions for subcutaneous injection. It can be used only on prescription. Thus it is necessary to be careful, because the drug is available under different brands and types, which may require changes in dosage. In pharmacy chains of Ukraine the drug is present, and its price is 800-1200 UAH depending on manufacturer and type of insulin.
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