DSIP (Dellin) peptide in pediatric neurology
The Discovery of DSIP and the Role of Bioactive Peptides in Sleep Regulation
In 1977, Swiss scientists studying sleep—one of the most enigmatic aspects of human consciousness—made a groundbreaking discovery. Through cross-circulation experiments with rabbits, they isolated a bioactive substrate that influenced the formation of the delta phase of sleep.
Contrary to prevailing scientific beliefs at the time, in vitro studies revealed that fragments of large bioactive protein molecules could exert independent effects. While this finding was not fully understood then, it sparked a wave of research into peptide biology.
Decades of international scientific work have since uncovered a new paradigm in homeostasis regulation. Bioactive peptides have been identified as key mediators in regulatory systems, playing crucial roles in neural, immune, endocrine, and paraendocrine communication. Thousands of these substances have been characterized, with many produced by trypsin-like enzymes and acting through specific receptors to trigger intracellular signaling cascades.
Among these peptides, neurotrophic factors (NTFs) hold particular significance, both for their essential biological functions and their direct connection to Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide (DSIP)—the focus of this discussion.