title: Biologic properties and therapeutic potential of glucagon-like peptide-2.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2), a 33 amino acid, proglucagon-derived peptide with intestinotrophic activity, is secreted from enteroendocrine cells in the small and large intestine.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review describes recent advances in our understanding of GLP-2 physiology from rodent experiments in vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GLP-2 administration induces mucosal epithelial proliferation in small and large bowel and stomach. GLP-2 is rapidly degraded by the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) to produce the biologically inactive form GLP-2(3-33), however, GLP-2 analogs that confer resistance to DPP-IV exhibit enhanced biologic activity in vivo. GLP-2-treated bowel retains normal to enhanced functional absorptive capacity. Furthermore, GLP-2 infusion prevents total parenteral nutrition (TPN)-associated intestinal hypoplasia, and enhances bowel adaptation and nutrient absorption in rats following small bowel resection. GLP-2 also reverses weight loss and improves histologic and biochemical parameters of disease activity in mice with experimental colitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GLP-2 is an intestine-derived peptide with intestinotrophic properties that may be therapeutically useful in diseases characterized by intestinal damage or insufficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Banting and Best Diabetes Centre, The Toronto Hospital, University of Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Drucker
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Boushey
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Brubaker
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yusta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003092:Colitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects*; D004068:Digestive System Physiological Phenomena; D053767:Glucagon-Like Peptide 2; D004763:Glucagon-Like Peptides; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D051379:Mice; D010455:Peptides / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D053767:Glucagon-Like Peptide 2; D010455:Peptides; D004763:Glucagon-Like Peptides