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The forgotten members of the glucagon family

Dominique Bataille1, Stéphane Dalle2

  • 1INSERM, 269, Rue Adrien Proby, 34090 Montpellier, France.

Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
|August 14, 2014
PubMed

Insights

This review highlights lesser-known proglucagon peptides: oxyntomodulin (OXM), miniglucagon, and glicentin. OXM regulates secretions and energy expenditure, while miniglucagon has insulin-antagonistic and insulin-mimetic properties.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Proglucagon processing yields multiple bioactive peptides beyond glucagon and GLP-1.
  • These include oxyntomodulin (OXM), miniglucagon, and glicentin, which possess significant biological functions.
  • Research often overlooks these peptides despite their therapeutic potential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the biological roles and potential applications of oxyntomodulin, miniglucagon, and glicentin.
  • To highlight their significance in gastric acid, intestinal secretions, and energy balance.
  • To explore miniglucagon's unique insulin-related properties.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on proglucagon-derived peptides.
  • Analysis of research on oxyntomodulin, miniglucagon, and glicentin functions.
  • Synthesis of findings regarding their physiological and pharmacological relevance.

Main Results:

  • Oxyntomodulin and glicentin regulate gastric acid and hydromineral intestinal secretions.
  • Oxyntomodulin influences food intake and energy expenditure, suggesting obesity treatment potential.
  • Miniglucagon antagonizes glucagon effects, inhibits insulin release, and exhibits insulin-like properties, offering a basis for insulin resistance therapies.

Conclusions:

  • Oxyntomodulin and miniglucagon present promising therapeutic avenues for obesity and insulin resistance.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the roles of these peptides and overcome delivery challenges.
  • These understudied peptides warrant greater attention in metabolic and endocrine research.
Keywords:
GlicentinGlucagonMiniglucagonOxyntomodulinPost-translational processingProglucagon

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