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Pixner T, Stummer N, Schneider AM, Lukas A, Gramlinger K, Julian V, Thivel D, Mörwald K, Mangge H, Dalus C, Aigner E, Furthner D, Weghuber D, Maruszczak K. The relationship between glucose and the liver-alpha cell axis - A systematic review. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 13:1061682. [PMID: 36686477 PMCID: PMC9849557 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1061682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Until recently, glucagon was considered a mere antagonist to insulin, protecting the body from hypoglycemia. This notion changed with the discovery of the liver-alpha cell axis (LACA) as a feedback loop. The LACA describes how glucagon secretion and pancreatic alpha cell proliferation are stimulated by circulating amino acids. Glucagon in turn leads to an upregulation of amino acid metabolism and ureagenesis in the liver. Several increasingly common diseases (e.g., non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity) disrupt this feedback loop. It is important for clinicians and researchers alike to understand the liver-alpha cell axis and the metabolic sequelae of these diseases. While most of previous studies have focused on fasting concentrations of glucagon and amino acids, there is limited knowledge of their dynamics after glucose administration. The authors of this systematic review applied PRISMA guidelines and conducted PubMed searches to provide results of 8078 articles (screened and if relevant, studied in full). This systematic review aims to provide better insight into the LACA and its mediators (amino acids and glucagon), focusing on the relationship between glucose and the LACA in adult and pediatric subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Pixner
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Salzkammergutklinikum Voecklabruck, Voecklabruck, Austria
- Obesity Research Unit, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Nathalie Stummer
- Obesity Research Unit, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
- Department of Pediatrics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Anna Maria Schneider
- Obesity Research Unit, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
- Department of Pediatrics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Andreas Lukas
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Salzkammergutklinikum Voecklabruck, Voecklabruck, Austria
- Obesity Research Unit, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Karin Gramlinger
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Salzkammergutklinikum Voecklabruck, Voecklabruck, Austria
| | - Valérie Julian
- Department of Sport Medicine and Functional Explorations, Diet and Musculoskeletal Health Team, Human Nutrition Research Center (CRNH), INRA, University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, University of Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - David Thivel
- Laboratory of Metabolic Adaptations to Exercise under Physiological and Pathological Conditions (AME2P), University of Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Katharina Mörwald
- Obesity Research Unit, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
- Department of Pediatrics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Harald Mangge
- Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Christopher Dalus
- Obesity Research Unit, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
- Department of Pediatrics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Elmar Aigner
- Obesity Research Unit, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
- First Department of Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Dieter Furthner
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Salzkammergutklinikum Voecklabruck, Voecklabruck, Austria
- Obesity Research Unit, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Daniel Weghuber
- Obesity Research Unit, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
- Department of Pediatrics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Katharina Maruszczak
- Obesity Research Unit, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
- Department of Pediatrics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
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Stinson SE, Jonsson AE, de Retana Alzola IF, Lund MAV, Frithioff-Bøjsøe C, Aas Holm L, Fonvig CE, Pedersen O, Ängquist L, Sørensen TIA, Holst JJ, Christiansen M, Holm JC, Hartmann B, Hansen T. Hyperglucagonemia in Pediatric Adiposity Associates With Cardiometabolic Risk Factors but Not Hyperglycemia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022; 107:1569-1576. [PMID: 35213713 PMCID: PMC9113783 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgac108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT In adults, hyperglucagonemia is associated with type 2 diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, and obesity. The role of glucagon in pediatric overweight/obesity remains unclear. OBJECTIVE We examined whether fasting concentrations of glucagon are elevated in youth with overweight/obesity and whether this associates with cardiometabolic risk profiles. METHODS Analyses were based on the cross-sectional HOLBAEK study, including children and adolescents 6 to 19 years of age, with overweight/obesity from an obesity clinic group (n = 2154) and with normal weight from a population-based group (n = 1858). Fasting concentrations of plasma glucagon and cardiometabolic risk outcomes were assessed, and multiple linear and logistic regressions models were performed. RESULTS The obesity clinic group had higher glucagon concentrations than the population-based group (P < 0.001). Glucagon positively associated with body mass index (BMI) standard deviation score (SDS), waist, body fat %, liver fat %, alanine transaminase (ALT), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, insulin, C-peptide, LDL-C, triglycerides, SDS of diastolic and systolic blood pressure, and was inversely associated with fasting glucose. The inverse relationship between glucagon and glucose was attenuated in individuals with high BMI SDS and high fasting insulin. Glucagon was associated with a higher prevalence of insulin resistance, increased ALT, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, but not with hyperglycemia. Glucagon was positively associated with fasting total glucagon-like peptide-1. CONCLUSION Compared with normal weight peers, children and adolescents with overweight/obesity had elevated concentrations of fasting glucagon, which corresponded to worsened cardiometabolic risk outcomes, except for hyperglycemia. This suggests hyperglucagonemia in youth may precede impairments in glucose regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara E Stinson
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna E Jonsson
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ierai Fernández de Retana Alzola
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten A V Lund
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Children’s Obesity Clinic, accredited European Centre for Obesity Management, Department of Pediatrics, Holbæk Hospital, Holbæk, Denmark
| | - Christine Frithioff-Bøjsøe
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Children’s Obesity Clinic, accredited European Centre for Obesity Management, Department of Pediatrics, Holbæk Hospital, Holbæk, Denmark
| | - Louise Aas Holm
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Children’s Obesity Clinic, accredited European Centre for Obesity Management, Department of Pediatrics, Holbæk Hospital, Holbæk, Denmark
| | - Cilius E Fonvig
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Children’s Obesity Clinic, accredited European Centre for Obesity Management, Department of Pediatrics, Holbæk Hospital, Holbæk, Denmark
- Department of Pediatrics, Kolding Hospital a part of Lillebælt Hospital, Kolding, Denmark
| | - Oluf Pedersen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lars Ängquist
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thorkild I A Sørensen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens J Holst
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Christiansen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens-Christian Holm
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Children’s Obesity Clinic, accredited European Centre for Obesity Management, Department of Pediatrics, Holbæk Hospital, Holbæk, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bolette Hartmann
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Torben Hansen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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