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. 2000 May;49(5):741-8.
doi: 10.2337/diabetes.49.5.741.

Insulinotropic glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists stimulate expression of homeodomain protein IDX-1 and increase islet size in mouse pancreas

D A Stoffers  1 , T J Kieffer, M A Hussain, D J Drucker, S Bonner-Weir, J F Habener, J M Egan
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Insulinotropic glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists stimulate expression of homeodomain protein IDX-1 and increase islet size in mouse pancreas

D A Stoffers et al. Diabetes. 2000 May.

Abstract

Diabetes is caused by a failure of the pancreas to produce insulin in amounts sufficient to meet the body's needs. A hallmark of diabetes is an absolute (type 1) or relative (type 2) reduction in the mass of pancreatic beta-cells that produce insulin. Mature beta-cells have a lifespan of approximately 48-56 days (rat) and are replaced by the replication of preexisting beta-cells and by the differentiation and proliferation of new beta-cells (neogenesis) derived from the pancreatic ducts. Here, we show that the insulinotropic hormone glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1, which is produced by the intestine, enhances the pancreatic expression of the homeodomain transcription factor IDX-1 that is critical for pancreas development and the transcriptional regulation of the insulin gene. Concomitantly, GLP-1 administered to diabetic mice stimulates insulin secretion and effectively lowers their blood sugar levels. GLP-1 also enhances beta-cell neogenesis and islet size. Thus, in addition to stimulating insulin secretion, GLP-1 stimulates the expression of the transcription factor IDX-1 while stimulating beta-cell neogenesis and may thereby be an effective treatment for diabetes.

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