Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2025

Validation of Therapeutic Agent Conjugation to Polyvinyl Alcohol-Coated Medical Devices
06:34

Validation of Therapeutic Agent Conjugation to Polyvinyl Alcohol-Coated Medical Devices

Published on: November 29, 2024

190

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: A Promising Therapy for Modern Lifestyle Diseases with Unforeseen Challenges

Patrycja Kupnicka1, Małgorzata Król1, Justyna Żychowska1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 27, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) effectively treat diabetes and obesity but may increase risks for pancreatitis and thyroid tumors with prolonged use. Patients require closer monitoring for these potential adverse effects.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Lifestyle diseases like diabetes and obesity affect millions globally.
  • Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are vital for managing these conditions.
  • GLP-1 receptors are present in various tissues, including those implicated in cancer development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent findings on GLP-1RAs' effects on the thyroid and pancreas.
  • To investigate potential links between long-term GLP-1RA use and pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and thyroid neoplasms.
  • To explore underlying mechanisms and long-term effects in diverse patient groups.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature review of MedLine (PubMed) database.
  • Inclusion of publications from 1978 to May 2024.
  • Selection based on relevance to GLP-1 agonists' effects on pancreas and thyroid.

Main Results:

  • Prolonged GLP-1RA use may be associated with an increased risk of thyroid tumor formation.
  • GLP-1RA therapy might elevate the risk of acute pancreatitis, especially in high-risk individuals.
  • Evidence suggests a need for further investigation into GLP-1RAs' oncogenic and inflammatory potential.

Conclusions:

  • Physicians should counsel patients on potential risks associated with long-term GLP-1RA use.
  • Increased frequency and detail in patient follow-ups are recommended.
  • Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the long-term safety profile of GLP-1RAs.
Keywords:
GLP-1 receptor agonistscancerglucagon-like peptide-1inflammationobesity

More Related Videos

An Acupoint Catgut-embedding Therapy for Treating Obesity04:50

An Acupoint Catgut-embedding Therapy for Treating Obesity

Published on: April 4, 2025

306
Sustained Administration of β-cell Mitogens to Intact Mouse Islets Ex Vivo Using Biodegradable Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Microspheres09:31

Sustained Administration of β-cell Mitogens to Intact Mouse Islets Ex Vivo Using Biodegradable Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Microspheres

Published on: November 5, 2016

7.2K

Related Concept Videos

Glucagon-like Receptor Agonists01:24

Glucagon-like Receptor Agonists

Incretins include glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which stimulate insulin secretion post-meals. In type 2 diabetes, GIP's efficacy is reduced, making GLP-1 a viable drug target. GIP originates from preproGIP.
GLP-1, when administered in high doses intravenously, triggers insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon release, slows gastric emptying, reduces food intake, and restores normal insulin secretion. However, its rapid inactivation by...
298
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Biguanides and Glitazones01:26

Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Biguanides and Glitazones

Biguanides, particularly metformin (Glucophage), are insulin sensitizers that enhance glucose uptake, thereby reducing insulin resistance. Unlike sulfonylureas, metformin doesn't prompt insulin secretion, which helps to curb hypoglycemia risk. Metformin is beneficial in treating conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome due to its insulin-resistance reduction capability. The drug's primary action involves curtailing hepatic gluconeogenesis, a significant contributor to high blood...
174
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Glinides01:06

Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Glinides

Repaglinide (Prandin) and Nateglinide (Starlix), known as glinides, are oral insulin secretagogues that stimulate insulin release from pancreatic β cells by closing the ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP channel). Repaglinide controls insulin release from pancreatic β cells by managing potassium efflux. It shares two binding sites with sulfonylureas and also has a unique site, indicating overlapping mechanisms of action. With a rapid onset and a 4-7 hour duration, it effectively...
141
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors01:23

Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) is a serine protease widely distributed in the body. It's involved in the inactivation of GLP-1 and GIP hormones, which are crucial for insulin regulation. DPP-4 inhibitors, such as sitagliptin (Januvia), saxagliptin (Onglyza), linagliptin (Tradjenta), alogliptin (Nesina), and vildagliptin (Galvus), help increase the proportion of active GLP-1, enhancing insulin secretion. These inhibitors work by competitively binding to DPP-4. This binding causes a...
171
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: α-Glucosidase Inhibitors01:19

Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: α-Glucosidase Inhibitors

α-glucosidase inhibitors, including acarbose (Precose), miglitol (Glyset), and voglibose (Voglib) (primarily available in Asia), are drugs that control blood sugar levels by delaying the digestion of starch and disaccharides. They achieve this by inhibiting α-glucosidase enzymes in the intestine, which slow the absorption of carbohydrates in the intestine, which in turn leads to a prolonged release of the glucoregulatory hormone GLP-1 from intestinal L-cells.
Acarbose and miglitol are...
159
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon01:15

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
152