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  • Metabolic Messengers
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Metabolic Messengers: glucagon-like peptide 1

Nature Metabolism volume 3, pages 142–148 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

Glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a peptide hormone from the intestinal tract, plays a central role in the coordination of postprandial glucose homeostasis through actions on insulin secretion, food intake and gut motility. GLP-1 forms the basis for a variety of current drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, as well as new agents currently being developed. Here, we provide a concise overview of the core physiology of GLP-1 secretion and action, and the role of the peptide in human health, disease and therapeutics.

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Fig. 1: Timeline of GLP-1 discovery and clinical development.
Fig. 2: Food-dependent stimulation of GLP-1 release from small intestine L-cells.
Fig. 3: Major GLP-1 targets.

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Acknowledgements

Research in the laboratories of F.M.G. and F.R. is primarily supported by Wellcome (106262/Z/14/Z and 106263/Z/14/Z) and MRC-UK (MRC_MC_UU_12012/3) funding.

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    Fiona M. Gribble & Frank Reimann

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  1. Fiona M. Gribble
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F.M.G. and F.R. co-wrote the article.

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Correspondence to Fiona M. Gribble or Frank Reimann.

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F.M.G. is a consultant for Kallyope, and the laboratories of F.M.G. and F.R. receive additional research funding from AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and LGC.

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Peer review information Primary Handling Editor: Christoph Schmitt. Nature Metabolism thanks Brian Finan and the other, anonymous, reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

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Gribble, F.M., Reimann, F. Metabolic Messengers: glucagon-like peptide 1. Nat Metab 3, 142–148 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-020-00327-x

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