TY - JOUR
T1 - The biology of glucagon and the consequences of hyperglucagonemia
AU - Wewer Albrechtsen, Nicolai J
AU - Kuhre, Rune E
AU - Pedersen, Jens
AU - Knop, Filip K
AU - Holst, Jens J
PY - 2016/9/9
Y1 - 2016/9/9
N2 - The proglucagon-derived peptide hormone, glucagon, comprises 29 amino acids. Its secretion from the pancreatic α cells is regulated by several factors. Glucagon increases blood glucose levels through gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis. Elevated plasma concentrations of glucagon, hyperglucagonemia, may contribute to diabetes. However, hyperglucagonemia is also observed in other clinical conditions than diabetes, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, glucagon-producing tumors and after gastric bypass surgery. Here, we review the current literature on hyperglucagonemia in disease with a particular focus on diabetes, and finally speculate that the primary physiological importance of glucagon may not reside in glucose homeostasis but in regulation of amino acid metabolism exerted via a hitherto unrecognized hepato-pancreatic feedback loop.
AB - The proglucagon-derived peptide hormone, glucagon, comprises 29 amino acids. Its secretion from the pancreatic α cells is regulated by several factors. Glucagon increases blood glucose levels through gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis. Elevated plasma concentrations of glucagon, hyperglucagonemia, may contribute to diabetes. However, hyperglucagonemia is also observed in other clinical conditions than diabetes, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, glucagon-producing tumors and after gastric bypass surgery. Here, we review the current literature on hyperglucagonemia in disease with a particular focus on diabetes, and finally speculate that the primary physiological importance of glucagon may not reside in glucose homeostasis but in regulation of amino acid metabolism exerted via a hitherto unrecognized hepato-pancreatic feedback loop.
U2 - 10.2217/bmm-2016-0090
DO - 10.2217/bmm-2016-0090
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 27611762
VL - 10
SP - 1141
EP - 1151
JO - Biomarkers in Medicine
JF - Biomarkers in Medicine
SN - 1752-0363
IS - 11
ER -