title: The nonhuman primate as a model for type 2 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although rodent models provide insight into the mechanisms underlying type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), they are limited in their translatability to humans. The nonhuman primate (NHP) shares important metabolic similarities with the human, making it an ideal model for the investigation of type 2 diabetes and use in preclinical trials. This review highlights the key contributions in the field over the last year using the NHP model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The NHP has not only provided novel insight into the normal and pathological processes that occur within the islet, but has also allowed for the preclinical testing of novel pharmaceutical targets for obesity and T2DM. Particularly, administration of fibroblast growth factor-21 in the NHP resulted in weight loss and improvements in metabolic health, supporting rodent studies and recent clinical trials. In addition, the NHP was used to demonstrate that a novel melanocortin-4 receptor agonist did not cause adverse cardiovascular effects. Finally, this model has been used to provide evidence that glucagon-like peptide-1-based therapies do not induce pancreatitis in the healthy NHP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The insight gained from studies using the NHP model has allowed for a better understanding of the processes driving T2DM and has promoted the development of well tolerated and effective treatments.
authors.affiliation: aDivision of Diabetes, Obesity, & Metabolism bDivision of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA.
authors.forename: Lynley D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Pound
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kievit
authors.forename: Kevin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Grove
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000819:agonists*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1