Glucagon as a target for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes

Authors: Sloop, Kyle W; Michael, M Dodson; Moyers, Julie S

Source: Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets, Volume 9, Number 3, 1 June 2005 , pp. 593-600(8)

Publisher: Informa Healthcare

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Abstract:

Glucagon is the key counter-regulatory hormone that opposes the action of insulin. In states of relative hypoglycaemia, glucagon acts to increase blood glucose by stimulating hepatic glycogen breakdown and gluconeogenesis to achieve euglycaemia. Type 2 diabetes is characterised by inappropriate regulation of hepatic glucose production, which is due, at least in part, to an imbalance in the bihormonal relationship between plasma levels of glucagon and insulin. The glucose-lowering effects of glucagon peptide antagonists and antiglucagon neutralising antibodies first demonstrated the potential of glucagon receptor (GCGR) antagonism as a treatment for hyperglycaemia. In recent years, the development of GCGR antisense oligonucleotides and small molecular weight GCGR antagonists have been pursued as possible therapeu-tic agents to target glucagon action as a treatment for Type2 diabe-tes.

Keywords: glucagon; glucagon receptor (GCGR); glucose homeostasis; Type 2 diabetes

Document Type: Review article

DOI: 10.1517/14728222.9.3.593

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