Metabolic Messengers: Glucagon
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Plasma glucose is tightly regulated via the secretion of the two glucose-regulating hormones insulin and glucagon. Situated next to the insulin-secreting β-cells, the α-cells produce and secrete glucagon-one of the body's few blood glucose-increasing hormones. Diabetes is a bihormonal disorder, resulting from both inadequate insulin secretion and dysregulation of glucagon. The year 2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of glucagon, making it particularly timely to highlight the roles of this systemic metabolic messenger in health and disease.
Blockade of glucagon receptor induces α-cell hypersecretion by hyperaminoacidemia in mice.
Jia J, Bai X, Kang Q, Jiang F, Wong F, Jin Q Nat Commun. 2025; 16(1):2473.
PMID: 40075066 PMC: 11903786. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57786-7.
Tobon-Cornejo S, Sanchez-Tapia M, Guizar-Heredia R, Velazquez Villegas L, Noriega L, Furuzawa-Carballeda J Gut Microbes. 2025; 17(1):2465896.
PMID: 39980327 PMC: 11849929. DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2025.2465896.
Lessons from a model: early glucagon dysfunction in type 2 diabetes.
Duckett S, MacDonald P Pflugers Arch. 2025; 477(2):201-203.
PMID: 39776190 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-024-03062-4.
TMEM55A-mediated PI5P signaling regulates α-cell actin depolymerization and glucagon secretion.
Liu X, Dos Santos T, Spigelman A, Duckett S, Smith N, Suzuki K bioRxiv. 2025; .
PMID: 39763967 PMC: 11702586. DOI: 10.1101/2024.12.16.628242.
Emerging approaches for the development of artificial islets.
Li J, Sun L, Bian F, Pandol S, Li L Smart Med. 2024; 3(2):e20230042.
PMID: 39188698 PMC: 11235711. DOI: 10.1002/SMMD.20230042.