GLP-1 based therapeutics: simultaneously combating T2DM and obesity

Kristy M Heppner; Diego Perez-Tilve

doi:10.3389/fnins.2015.00092

GLP-1 based therapeutics: simultaneously combating T2DM and obesity

Front Neurosci. 2015 Mar 20:9:92. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00092. eCollection 2015.

Authors

Kristy M Heppner¹, Diego Perez-Tilve²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University Beaverton, OR, USA.
² Department of Medicine, Metabolic Diseases Institute, University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH, USA.

Abstract

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) enhances meal-related insulin secretion, which lowers blood glucose excursions. In addition to its incretin action, GLP-1 acts on the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) in the brain to suppress feeding. These combined actions of GLP-1R signaling cause improvements in glycemic control as well as weight loss in type II diabetes (T2DM) patients treated with GLP-1R agonists. This is a superior advantage of GLP-1R pharmaceuticals as many other drugs used to treat T2DM are weight neutral or actual cause weight gain. This review summarizes GLP-1R action on energy and glucose metabolism, the effectiveness of current GLP-1R agonists on weight loss in T2DM patients, as well as GLP-1R combination therapies.

Keywords: CNS; GLP-1; diabetes; insulin; obesity.

Publication types

Review