Gut-Brain Glucose Signaling in Energy Homeostasis

• Published in: Cell metabolism Vol. 25; no. 6; pp. 1231 - 1242
• Main Authors: Soty, Maud, Gautier-Stein, Amandine, Rajas, Fabienne, Mithieux, Gilles
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 06.06.2017; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Brain - metabolism; brain glucose sensing; endogenous glucose production; energy homeostasis; Energy Metabolism - physiology; food intake; Gastrointestinal Hormones - metabolism; Glucose - metabolism; glucose control; Humans; insulin sensitivity; intestinal gluconeogenesis; Intestines - metabolism; Life Sciences; Neurons and Cognition; Signal Transduction - physiology; insulin sensitivity; endogenous glucose production; intestinal gluconeogenesis; glucose control; energy homeostasis; brain glucose sensing; food intake
• ISSN: 1550-4131; 1932-7420
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2017.04.032

Intestinal gluconeogenesis is a recently identified function influencing energy homeostasis. Intestinal gluconeogenesis induced by specific nutrients releases glucose, which is sensed by the nervous system surrounding the portal vein. This initiates a signal positively influencing parameters involved in glucose control and energy management controlled by the brain. This knowledge has extended our vision of the gut-brain axis, classically ascribed to gastrointestinal hormones. Our work raises several questions relating to the conditions under which intestinal gluconeogenesis proceeds and may provide its metabolic benefits. It also leads to questions on the advantage conferred by its conservation through a process of natural selection. Soty et al. discuss how intestinal gluconeogenesis induced by specific nutrients initiates neural sensing of glucose in the portal vein and a central signal positively influencing parameters involved in glucose control and energy management. This knowledge has extended our vision of the gut-brain axis, classically ascribed to gastrointestinal hormones.