New Avenues in the Regulation of Gallbladder Motility: Implications for the Use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-Derived Drugs

Ida M. Gether, Christina Nexøe-Larsen, Filip K. Knop

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Several cases of cholelithiasis and cholecystitis have been reported in patients treated with glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and GLP-2 receptor agonists (GLP- 2RAs), respectively. Thus, the effects of GLP-1 and GLP-2 on gallbladder motility have been investigated. We have provided an overview of the mechanisms regulating gallbladder motility and highlight novel findings on the effects of bile acids and glucagon-like peptides on gallbladder motility. Evidence Acquisition: The articles included in the present review were identified using electronic literature searches. The search results were narrowed to data reporting the effects of bile acids and GLPs on gallbladder motility. Evidence Synthesis: Bile acids negate the effect of postprandial cholecystokinin-mediated gallbladder contraction. Two bile acid receptors seem to be involved in this feedback mechanism, the transmembrane Takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5) and the nuclear farnesoid X receptor. Furthermore, activation of TGR5 in enteroendocrine L cells leads to release of GLP-1 and, possibly, GLP-2. Recent findings have pointed to the existence of a bile acid-TGR5-L cell-GLP-2 axis that serves to terminate meal-induced gallbladder contraction and thereby initiate gallbladder refilling. GLP-2 might play a dominant role in this axis by directly relaxing the gallbladder. Moreover, recent findings have suggested GLP-1RA treatment prolongs the refilling phase of the gallbladder.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume104
Issue number7
Pages (from-to)2463-2472
ISSN0021-972X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

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