title: Incretin-based treatment of type 2 diabetes: glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors.
abstract: Incretins are gut peptides that potentiate nutrient-stimulated insulin secretion following meal ingestion. Activities of the dominant incretins, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide, include glucose-dependent stimulation of insulin secretion and, in preclinical models, improvement in islet beta-cell mass. GLP-1 additionally reduces glucagon secretion, inhibits gastric emptying and promotes satiety. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) exhibit reduced total and intact GLP-1 levels, and exogenous administration of the hormone via continuous infusion results in glucose profiles similar to those in non-diabetic subjects. Incretins are rapidly degraded by dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4). Thus, strategies to enhance incretin activity have included development of GLP-1 receptor agonists resistant to the action of DPP-4 (e.g. exenatide and liraglutide) and DPP-4 inhibitors that act to increase concentrations of endogenous intact incretins (e.g. sitagliptin and vildagliptin). Clinical trials of these incretin-based therapies have shown them to be effective in improving glycaemic control in patients with T2DM.
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. deacon@mfi.ku.dk
authors: Carolyn F
authors: CF
authors: Deacon
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000067757:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor; D006801:Humans; D054795:Incretins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D054873:Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors; C000593833:GLP1R protein, human; D000067757:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor; D054795:Incretins; D007328:Insulin; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon