Peptides are short chains of amino acids, typically containing 2-50 amino acids. They are essentially small proteins. Peptides play important roles in the human body such as cell signaling, immune function, and hormone regulation. Some common peptides include insulin, oxytocin, and endorphin.
There are many different classes and functions of peptides:
- Signaling peptides - These regulate signals between cells and tissues. Examples are endorphins which regulate pain perception.
- Antimicrobial peptides - These defend against pathogens and infections.
- Cell-penetrating peptides - These can transport cargo such as drugs across cell membranes.
So in summary, peptides are short protein fragments that play crucial signaling, regulatory, and defensive roles in the body.
While some peptides like insulin are produced naturally in the body, there has been growing research interest in the therapeutic use of supplemental peptides. This is an exciting new area of precision
hormone optimization and wellness.
Now back to more details on the different peptide categories:
Thymosin Peptides
- Modulate immune function
- Example: Thymosin Beta 4
As you can see, there are many promising uses of peptides in medicine. The future looks bright for peptide research. Let me know if you have any other questions!