Incretin Biology — A Practical Guide

GLP-1 and GIP Physiology

Together, obesity and diabetes form a 21st century epidemic, the treatment of which consumes a substantial fraction of global health costs. New and improved therapies are therefore desperately needed.

Incretins are short peptide hormones released from the gut in response to food transit. These hormones regulate a plethora of processes to control food intake, body weight and glucose homeostasis. This is one of the fastest areas of growth within diabetes research, and over the past decade, increasing numbers of novel diabetes drugs — many based on incretin action — have been added to the therapeutic armoury.

Following an introduction detailing the historical perspective and discovery of incretin therapies and clinical applications, the book looks at the release of incretins at a cellular level from entero-endocrine cells, and actions on the pancreas (alpha and beta cells) and brain. It then looks at changes in incretins seen in diabetes and following bariatric surgery. Finally, the side effects of incretin therapy are discussed. Importantly, each chapter contains a methodology section aimed at providing a practical guide to key techniques in the field of incretin biology and ranges from basic laboratory research to clinical practice.

Incretin Biology — A Practical Guide offers a unique perspective within this field of research by bringing together scientists, physicians and bariatric surgeons. Thus, it is a comprehensive text that offers a broad overview of the subject.

Contents:

• History of Incretin Discovery and Clinical Application (S E K Zac-Varghese and S R Bloom)
• Synthesis and Secretion of Incretins from the Gut (A E Adriaenssens, F Reimann and Gribble)
• Studying Incretin Action on the Pancreatic β Cell (D J Hodson and G A Rutter)
• Action of Incretins on the Pancreatic α Cell: Control of Glucagon Secretion (L McCulloch, M Godazgar, P Rorsman and R Ramracheya)
• Role of Incretins in the Brain (J E Richards, S C Cork, M K Holt and S Trapp)
• Bariatric Surgery: Clinical Aspects (A Ahmed and C Tsironis)
• GLP-1 in Bariatric Surgery and Diabetes: Underlying Molecular Mechanisms (N B Jørgensen and J J Holst)
• GLP-1-Based Therapies: What are the Safety Implications? (A Mondragon, A Bertling, R Gomes-Faria, G A Rutter and G da Silva Xavier)

Readership: Scientists and clinicians with an emphasis on translational research; biology students; medical students; physicians and bariatric surgeons; and those with an interest in the use of incretins in diabetes and obesity treatment with a view to undertake research within this field.
Key Features:

• Broad overview of the field of incretin biology from a cellular level to clinical application
• Detailed protocols with extensive practical tips
• Chapters from prominent authors who are currently leading in this field