Glucagon like peptide is far away from Glucagon

I am just sharing basic science after thinking about some rubbish social posts :)

Glucagon and Glucagon-like peptide are quite different in their origins and actions despite name whch could come from the ground of structural similarity. Anyway ,more or less they are opposite. 

Glucagon

*an important hormone involved in carbohydrate metabolism. 
*Produced by the pancreas
*released when the glucose level in the blood is low (hypoglycemia), causing the liver to convert stored glycogen into glucose and release it into the bloodstream. 
*The action of glucagon is thus opposite to that of insulin, which instructs the body's cells to take in glucose from the blood in times of satiation.

Regulatory mechanism

Increased secretion of glucagon is caused by:

* Decreased plasma glucose
* Increased catecholamines - norepinephrine and epinephrine
* Increased plasma amino acids (to protect from hypoglycemia if an all protein meal is consumed)
* Sympathetic nervous system
* Acetylcholine
* Cholecystokinin

Decreased secretion of glucagon (inhibition) is caused by:

* Somatostatin
* Insulin

Function

Glucagon helps maintain the level of glucose in the blood by binding to glucagon receptors on hepatocytes, causing the liver to release glucose - stored in the form of glycogen - through a process known as glycogenolysis. As these stores become depleted, glucagon then encourages the liver to synthesize additional glucose by gluconeogenesis. This glucose is released into the bloodstream. Both of these mechanisms lead to glucose release by the liver, preventing the development of hypoglycemia. Glucagon also regulates the rate of glucose production through lipolysis.

Glucagon production appears to be dependent on the central nervous system through pathways which are yet to be defined. It has been reported that in invertebrate animals eyestalk removal can affect glucagon production. Excising the eyestalk in young crayfish produces glucagon-induced hyperglycemia.

* Increased free fatty acids and ketoacids into the blood
* Increased urea production

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is derived from the transcription product of the proglucagon gene. The major source of GLP-1 in the body is the intestinal L cell that secretes GLP-1 as a gut hormone. The biologically active forms of GLP-1 are: GLP-1-(7-37)and GLP-1-(7-36)NH2.

GLP-1 secretion by L cells is dependent on the presence of nutrients in the lumen of the small intestine. The secretagogues (agents that cause or stimulate secretion) of this hormone include major nutrients like carbohydrate, protein and lipid. Once in the circulation, GLP-1 has a half life of less than 2 minutes, due to rapid degradation by the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-4.

GLP-1 possesses several physiological properties that make it a subject of intensive investigation as a potential treatment of diabetes mellitus.

The known physiological functions of GLP-1 include:

* increases insulin secretion from the pancreas in a glucose-dependent manner.
* decreases glucagon secretion from the pancreas.
* increases beta cells mass and insulin gene expression.
* inhibits acid secretion and gastric emptying in the stomach.
* decreases food intake by increasing satiety.

Currently the synthetic GLP-1 analogue, Exenatide is licensed for combination therapy in the management of type 2 diabetes.

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