Review

Rev Diabet Stud, 2011, 8(3):293-306

DOI 10.1900/RDS.2011.8.293

Physiology of Incretins in Health and Disease

Carolyn F. Deacon¹, Bo Ahrén²

¹Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
²Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
Address correspondence to: Carolyn F. Deacon, e-mail: deacon@sund.ku.dk

Manuscript submitted September 1, 2011; resubmitted October 6, 2011; accepted October 10, 2011.

Keywords: DPP-4, GIP, GLP-1, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, glucagon-like peptide-1, glycemic control, gut hormone, incretin, obesity, type 2 diabetes

Abstract

The incretin hormones, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), are gut peptides which are secreted by endocrine cells in the intestinal mucosa. Their plasma concentrations increase quickly following food ingestion, and carbohydrate, fat, and protein have all been shown to stimulate GLP-1 and GIP secretion. Although neural and hormonal mechanisms have also been proposed to regulate incretin hormone secretion, direct stimulation of the enteroendocrine cells by the presence of nutrients in the intestinal lumen is probably the most important factor in humans. The actions of the incretin hormones are crucial for maintaining normal islet function and glucose homeostasis. Furthermore, it is also now being recognized that incretin hormones may have other actions in addition to their glucoregulatory effects. Studies have shown that GLP-1 and GIP levels and actions may be perturbed in disease states, but interpretation of the precise relationship between disease and incretins is difficult. The balance of evidence seems to suggest that alterations in secretion and/or action of incretin hormones arise secondarily to the development of insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and/or increases in body weight rather than being causative factors. However, these impairments may contribute to the deterioration of glycemic control in diabetic patients.

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Physiology of Incretins in Health and Disease (2.7 MB)

Special Issue

Drug Development and Clinical Trials in Type 2 Diabetes and its Complications

Edited by:
Baptist Gallwitz and Itamar Raz

Issue-Based Impact Factor:
2013: 4.333
2014: 6.417

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