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The Glucagon–Miniglucagon Interplay
Author(s) -
BATAILLE DOMINIQUE,
FONTÉS GHISLAINE,
COSTES SAFIA,
LONGUET CHRISTINE,
DALLE STÉPHANE
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1317.005
Subject(s) - glucagon , proglucagon , insulin , medicine , endocrinology , islet , glucagon receptor , glucagon like peptide 1 , biology , chemistry , type 2 diabetes , diabetes mellitus
Miniglucagon (glucagon 19–29) is the ultimate processing product of proglucagon, present in the glucagon‐secreting granules of the α cells, at a close vicinity of the insulin‐secreting β cells. Co‐released with glucagon and thanks to its original mode of action and its huge potency, it suppresses, inside the islet of Langerhans, the detrimental effect of glucagon on insulin secretion, while it leaves untouched the beneficial effect of glucagon on glucose competence of the β cell. At the periphery, miniglucagon is processed at the surface of glucagon‐ and insulin‐sensitive cells from circulating glucagon. At that level, it acts via a cellular pathway which uses initial molecular steps distinct from that of insulin which, when impaired, are involved in insulin resistence. This bypass allows miniglucagon to act as an insulin‐like component, a characteristic which makes this peptide of particular interest from a pathophysiological and pharmacological point of views in understanding and treating metabolic diseases, such as the type 2 diabetes.