Abstract
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing, which is alarming because of its serious complications. Anti-diabetic treatment aims to control glucose homeostasis as tightly as possible in order to reduce these complications. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are a recent addition to the anti-diabetic treatment modalities, and have become widely accepted because of their good efficacy, their benign side-effect profile and their low hypoglycaemia risk. The actions of DPP-4 inhibitors are not direct, but rather are mediated indirectly through preservation of the substrates they protect from degradation. The two incretin hormones, glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, are known substrates, but other incretin-independent mechanisms may also be involved. It seems likely therefore that the mechanisms of action of DPP-4 inhibitors are more complex than originally thought, and may involve several substrates and encompass local paracrine, systemic endocrine and neural pathways, which are discussed here.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Pages (from-to) | 34-41 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| ISSN | 1462-8902 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 |
Keywords
- dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors
- incretin therapy
- type 2 diabetes
