Insulin and Glucagon: Partners for Life.
In August 2016, several leaders in glucagon biology gathered for the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Hagedorn Workshop in Oxford, England. A key point of discussion focused on the need for basal insulin to allow for the therapeutic benefit of glucagon blockade in the treatment of diabetes. Among the most enlightening experimental results presented were findings from studies in which glucagon receptor-deficient mice were administered streptozotocin to destroy pancreatic β cells or had undergone diphtheria toxin-induced β cell ablation. This article summarizes key features of the discussion as a consensus was reached. Agents that antagonize glucagon may be of great benefit for the treatment of diabetes; however, sufficient levels of basal insulin are required for their therapeutic efficacy.
Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Jens Juul
JJ
Holst
Touchstone Diabetes Center, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390.
William
W
Holland
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, New York.
Jesper
J
Gromada
Touchstone Diabetes Center, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390.
Young
Y
Lee
Touchstone Diabetes Center, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390.
Roger H
RH
Unger
REMD Biotherapeutics Inc., Camarillo, California.
Hai
H
Yan
Endocrine Discovery, Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Kyle W
KW
Sloop
Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Timothy J
TJ
Kieffer
Department of Genetic Medicine & Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
Nicolas
N
Damond
Department of Genetic Medicine & Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
Pedro L
PL
Herrera
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy; D005934:Glucagon / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D005934:Glucagon