Article ViewAbstractThe Review of Diabetic Studies,2005,2,2,61-69.DOI:10.1900/RDS.2005.2.61Published:May 2005Type:Review Article Authors:Baptist Gallwitz Author(s) affiliations:Baptist Gallwitz Department of Medicine IV, Eberhard-Karls-University, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. Abstract:Orally ingested glucose leads to a greater insulin response compared to intravenously administered glucose leading to identical postprandial plasma glucose excursions, a phenomenon referred to as the “incretin effect”. The incretin effect comprises up to 60% of the postprandial insulin secretion and is diminished in type 2 diabetes. One of the very important gastrointestinal hormones promoting this effect is glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). It only stimulates insulin secretion and normalizes blood glucose in humans under hyperglycemic conditions, therefore it does not cause hypoglycemia. Other important physiological actions of GLP-1 are the inhibition of glucagon secretion and gastric emptying. It further acts as a neurotransmitter in the hypothalamus stimulating satiety. In vitro and animal data demonstrated that GLP-1 increases β-cell mass by stimulating islet cell neogenesis and by inhibiting apoptosis of islets. In humans, the improvement of β-cell function can be indirectly observed from the increased insulin secretory capacity after GLP-1 infusions. GLP-1 represents an attractive therapeutic principle for type 2 diabetes. However, native GLP-1 is degraded rapidly upon exogenous administration and is therefore not feasible for routine therapy. The first long-acting GLP-1 analog (“incretin mimetic”) Exenatide (Byetta®) has just been approved for type 2 diabetes therapy. Other compounds are being investigated in clinical trials (e.g. liraglutide ®, CJC1131®). Dipeptidyl-peptidase IV inhibitors (DPPIV inhibitors; e.g. Vildagliptin®, Sitagliptin®) that inhibit the enzyme responsible for incretin degradation are also under study. Keywords:DPP-IV inhibitors, GLP-1, Incretin, Incretin mimetics, Sitagliptin, Type 2 diabetes, VildagliptinView:PDF (363.34 KB) PDFClick here to download the PDF file. Images The Enteroinsular Axis ‹ Is a New Immune Response Mediator in the NF-κB pathway - SUMO-4 - Related to Type 1 Diabetes? up Manganese Superoxide Dismutase Alanine to Valine Polymorphism and Risk of Neuropathy and Nephropathy in Egyptian Type 1 Diabetic Patients ›