The effects of dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonism on glucagon secretion:a review

The gut-derived incretin hormones glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) are secreted after meal ingestion and work in concert to promote postprandial insulin secretion. Furthermore, GLP-1 inhibits glucagon secretion when plasma glucose concentrations are above normal fasting concentrations while GIP acts glucagonotropically at low glucose levels. A dual incretin receptor agonist designed to co-activate GLP-1 and GIP receptors was recently shown to elicit robust improvements of glycemic control (mean haemoglobin A1c reduction of 1.94%) and massive body weight loss (mean weight loss of 11.3 kg) after 26 weeks of treatment with the highest dose (15 mg once weekly) in a clinical trial including overweight/obese patients with type 2 diabetes. Here, we describe the mechanisms by which the two incretins modulate alpha cell secretion of glucagon, review the effects of co-administration of GLP-1 and GIP on glucagon secretion, and discuss the potential role of glucagon in the therapeutic effects observed with novel unimolecular dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists. For clinicians and researchers, this manuscript offers an understanding of incretin physiology and pharmacology, and provides mechanistic insight into future antidiabetic and obesity treatments

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Effects of combined GIP and GLP-1 infusion on energy intake, appetite and energy expenditure in overweight/obese individuals:a randomised, crossover study

Aims/hypothesis: Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) reduces appetite and energy intake in humans, whereas the other incretin hormone, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), seems to have no effect on eating behaviour. Interestingly, studies in rodents have shown that concomitant activation of GIP and GLP-1 receptors may potentiate the satiety-promoting effect of GLP-1, and a novel dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist was recently shown to trigger greater weight losses compared with a GLP-1 receptor agonist in individuals with type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to delineate the effects of combined GIP and GLP-1 receptor activation on energy intake, appetite and resting energy expenditure in humans. Methods: We examined 17 overweight/obese men in a crossover design with 5 study days. On day 1, a 50 g OGTT was performed; on the following 4 study days, the men received an isoglycaemic i.v. glucose infusion (IIGI) plus saline (154 mmol/l NaCl; placebo), GIP (4 pmol kg−1 min−1), GLP-1 (1 pmol kg−1 min−1) or GIP+GLP-1 (4 and 1 pmol kg−1 min−1, respectively). All IIGIs were performed in a randomised order blinded for the participant and the investigators. The primary endpoint was energy intake as measured by an ad libitum meal after 240 min. Secondary endpoints included appetite ratings and resting energy expenditure, as well as insulin, C-peptide and glucagon responses. Results: Energy intake was significantly reduced during IIGI+GLP-1 compared with IIGI+saline infusion (2715 ± 409 vs 4483 ± 568 kJ [mean ± SEM, n = 17], p = 0.014), whereas there were no significant differences in energy intake during IIGI+GIP (4062 ± 520 kJ) or IIGI+GIP+GLP-1 (3875 ± 451 kJ) infusion compared with IIGI+saline (p = 0.590 and p = 0.364, respectively). Energy intake was higher during IIGI+GIP+GLP-1 compared with IIGI+GLP-1 infusion (p = 0.039). Conclusions/interpretation: While GLP-1 infusion lowered energy intake in overweight/obese men, simultaneous GIP infusion did not potentiate this GLP-1-mediated effect. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02598791 Funding: This study was supported by grants from the Innovation Fund Denmark and the Vissing Foundation