The gene encoding proglucagon is expressed predominantly in the pancreas and intestine. The physiological importance of glucagon secreted from the islets of Langerhans has engendered considerable interest in the molecular control of proglucagon gene transcription in the endocrine pancreas. In contrast, little is known about the molecular control of proglucagon gene expression in the intestine. ...

The proglucagon (PG) gene is expressed in the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and brain in several animal species. The PG gene is differentially translated in the GI tract by specific endocrine cells to produce glucagon in the pancreas and glucagon-like peptides 1 and 2 (GLP-1/GLP-2), glicentin, and oxyntomodulin in the intestine. These PG-derived peptides have diverse functions involving insulin s...

AIMS/INTRODUCTION The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) on hyperglycemia and gastrointestinal hormones in Chinese obese type 2 diabetic patients with body mass index (BMI) between 28 and 35 kg/m(2). MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of eight obese type 2 diabetes patients with BMI 28-35 kg/m(2) who underwent RYGB and 10 obese normal glucose tolerance...

BACKGROUND Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) is a pluripotent peptide that has been implicated in both gastrointestinal inflammatory states and classical chronic metabolic diseases such as diabetes. Abnormal glucose metabolism (AGM) after pancreatitis, an exemplar inflammatory disease involving the gastrointestinal tract, is associated with persistent low-grade inflammation and altered secretion ...

The glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) is a promising target for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus because of its role in metabolic homeostasis. In recent years, difficulties with peptide therapies have driven the search for small-molecule compounds to modulate the activity of this receptor. We recently identified quercetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, as a probe-dependent,...

Approximately 3.6 million individuals suffer from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the western world, with an annual global incidence rate of 3‑20 cases/100,000 individuals. The etiology of IBD is unknown, and the currently available treatment options are not satifactory for long‑term treatment. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease present with abnormalities in multiple intestinal endocr...

The preproglucagon gene (Gcg) is expressed by specific enteroendocrine cells (L-cells) of the intestinal mucosa, pancreatic islet α-cells, and a discrete set of neurons within the nucleus of the solitary tract. Gcg encodes multiple peptides including glucagon, glucagon-like peptide-1, glucagon-like peptide-2, oxyntomodulin, and glicentin. Of these, glucagon and GLP-1 have received the most atte...

High-performance liquid chromatography-purified I2*l-vasoactive in testinal peptide (VIP) bound to T-47D human breast cancer cells in a specific, saturable, and reversible manner. Scatchard plots were compat ible with the presence of one class of VIP receptors with high affinity (*„= 4.5 x HT10 M VIP, and Bm* = 293 fmol/mg protein). The neuropeptide and its natural analogues inhibited the bin...

High-performance liquid chromatography-purified I2*l-vasoactive in testinal peptide (VIP) bound to T-47D human breast cancer cells in a specific, saturable, and reversible manner. Scatchard plots were compat ible with the presence of one class of VIP receptors with high affinity (*„= 4.5 x HT10 M VIP, and Bm* = 293 fmol/mg protein). The neuropeptide and its natural analogues inhibited the bin...

Peptide hormones are released from the gastrointestinal tract in response to nutrients and communicate information regarding the current state of energy balance to the brain. These hormones regulate appetite, energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis. They can act either via the circulation at target peripheral tissues, by activation of the vagus nerve or by acting on key brain regions implica...