NIH R01 · 2025
Arginine regulation of alpha cell proliferation and function
PROJECT SUMMARY Traditionally, diabetes is defined as decreased insulin action resulting in impaired glucose homeostasis. However, inappropriate secretion of glucagon also contributes to the hyperglycemia in diabetes. Blocking glucagon action lowers blood glucose, but also leads to hyperglucagonemia with α cell proliferation and hyperplasia. We demonstrated that this is due to high blood levels of amino acids resulting from impaired amino acid catabolism in liver (gluconeogenesis). These studies demonstrated a classical endocrine feedback loop, the liver-islet α cell axis. As part of our K01 funded investigations, we discovered that high levels of arginine are required for the effects of…
From the public funding record at NIH RePORTER. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.