title: Incretin hormones and insulin sensitivity.
abstract: Incretin hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and the longer lasting analog exendin-4 show clinical promise for the treatment of diabetes because of glucoregulatory activities that enhance beta-cell function and growth, and actions in the central nervous system that induce satiety and decrease caloric intake. The actions of these peptides on insulin-responsive tissues is less clear, but recent advances indicate that chronic treatment with exendin-4 increases insulin sensitivity via two distinct mechanisms: one is attributable to changes in food intake and the subsequent improvements in glycemia; the second is largely independent of reductions in blood glucose. In addition, exendin-4 might also have direct effects on beta-cell neogenesis that are independent of insulin demand.
authors.affiliation: E.A. Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1402 S. Grand Blvd, St Louis, MO 63104, USA. hansenpa@slu.edu
authors.forename: Polly A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Corbett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy; D000077270:Exenatide; D005934:Glucagon / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014688:Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010455:Peptides; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014688:Venoms; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D005934:Glucagon; D000077270:Exenatide