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Upper intestinal lipids regulate energy and glucose homeostasis

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Abstract

Upon the entry of nutrients into the small intestine, nutrient sensing mechanisms are activated to allow the body to adapt appropriately to the incoming nutrients. To date, mounting evidence points to the existence of an upper intestinal lipid-induced gut–brain neuronal axis to regulate energy homeostasis. Moreover, a recent discovery has also revealed an upper intestinal lipid-induced gut–brain–liver neuronal axis involved in the regulation of glucose homeostasis. In this mini-review, we will focus on the mechanisms underlying the activation of these respective neuronal axes by upper intestinal lipids.

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Acknowledgments

T. Lam is supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR, MOP-82701 and 86554). G. Cheung is supported by a graduate studentship from the Banting and Best Diabetes Centre at the University of Toronto (BBDC). A. Kokorovic is supported by a grant from the BBDC. T. Lam holds the John Kitson McIvor Chair in Diabetes Research at the Toronto General Research Institute and the University of Toronto. We apologize to colleagues whose work has not been specifically referenced due to space limitations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 1A8, Canada

    Grace W. C. Cheung, Andrea Kokorovic & Tony K. T. Lam

  2. Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 1A8, Canada

    Tony K. T. Lam

  3. Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, M5G 1L7, Canada

    Grace W. C. Cheung, Andrea Kokorovic & Tony K. T. Lam

  4. MaRS Centre, Toronto Medical Discovery Tower, Room 10-706, 101 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada

    Tony K. T. Lam

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  1. Grace W. C. Cheung
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  2. Andrea Kokorovic
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Correspondence to Tony K. T. Lam.

Additional information

G. W. C. Cheung and A. Kokorovic contributed equally to this review.

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Cheung, G.W.C., Kokorovic, A. & Lam, T.K.T. Upper intestinal lipids regulate energy and glucose homeostasis. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 66, 3023–3027 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-009-0062-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-009-0062-y

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