# Gut Peptide Alterations in Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity: A Narrative Review

**Authors:** Evangelia Tzeravini, Stamatia Simati, Ioanna A. Anastasiou, Maria Dalamaga, Alexander Kokkinos

PMC · DOI: 10.1007/s13679-026-00687-7 · Current Obesity Reports · 2026-01-23

## TL;DR

This review explores how gut hormones are altered in type 2 diabetes and obesity, affecting glucose control and metabolism.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive summary of gut peptide responses in T2DM and obesity, highlighting dysregulation patterns.

## Key findings

- GLP-1 levels are preserved but its actions are impaired in T2DM and obesity.
- PYY is reduced in obesity and shows impaired postprandial rises in T2DM.
- CCK resistance may diminish satiety signaling in T2DM and obesity.

## Abstract

The gastrointestinal tract acts as an endocrine organ, releasing hormones that regulate glucose homeostasis, appetite, energy expenditure, and gastrointestinal motility. In type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and obesity, this finely tuned hormonal system is disrupted, contributing to metabolic dysfunction. This review summarizes current evidence on fasting and postprandial responses to mixed-meal tests (MMT) and oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) of proglucagon-derived peptides (PGDPs), orexigenic and anorexigenic hormones, and less frequently studied gastrointestinal peptides in individuals with T2DM and obesity compared with healthy controls.

Studies demonstrate that while GLP-1 levels are often preserved, its insulinotropic and glucagonostatic actions are impaired in T2DM and obesity. GIP secretion is maintained or increased but exhibits reduced biological efficacy. Oxyntomodulin and GLP-2 show blunted postprandial responses, whereas glicentin, GRPP, and MPGF remain poorly characterized but appear dysregulated. PYY is reduced in obesity and shows impaired postprandial rises in T2DM, while PP is frequently elevated in T2DM. CCK resistance may diminish satiety signaling, though secretion data are inconsistent. Secretin and amylin exhibit complex, stage-specific alterations, whereas ghrelin and obestatin are typically reduced in both conditions.

Gut hormone alterations in T2DM and obesity include both adaptive and pathogenic features, reflecting disruptions across multiple peptide systems. Standardization of peptide measurements and deeper investigation into their mechanistic roles will be essential for advancing precision-based interventions targeting gastrointestinal hormones in metabolic disease.

## Linked entities

- **Proteins:** GCG (glucagon), GIP (gastric inhibitory polypeptide), PYY (peptide YY), CCK (cholecystokinin), LOC102095904 (uncharacterized LOC102095904), IAPP (islet amyloid polypeptide), GHRL (ghrelin and obestatin prepropeptide)
- **Diseases:** Type 2 diabetes (MONDO:0005148), Obesity (MONDO:0011122)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** PPY (pancreatic polypeptide) [NCBI Gene 5539] {aka PH, PNP, PP}, Ppy (pancreatic polypeptide) [NCBI Gene 19064] {aka IGSPP, PP}, GH1 (growth hormone 1) [NCBI Gene 2688] {aka GH, GH-N, GHB5, GHN, IGHD1A, IGHD1B}, Glp1r (glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor) [NCBI Gene 14652] {aka GLP-1R, GLP1Rc}, PYY (peptide YY) [NCBI Gene 5697] {aka PYY-I, PYY1}, Gpr39 (G protein-coupled receptor 39) [NCBI Gene 71111] {aka 4933415E13Rik}, MAPK1 (mitogen-activated protein kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 5594] {aka ERK, ERK-2, ERK2, ERT1, MAPK2, NS13}, Glp2r (glucagon-like peptide 2 receptor) [NCBI Gene 93896] {aka 9530092J08Rik, GLP-2}, CALCR (calcitonin receptor) [NCBI Gene 799] {aka CRT, CT-R, CTR, CTR1}, DPP4 (dipeptidyl peptidase 4) [NCBI Gene 1803] {aka ADABP, ADCP2, CD26, DPPIV, TP103}, INS (insulin) [NCBI Gene 3630] {aka IDDM, IDDM1, IDDM2, ILPR, IRDN, MODY10}, Lep (leptin) [NCBI Gene 16846] {aka ob, obese}, GHSR (growth hormone secretagogue receptor) [NCBI Gene 2693] {aka GHDP, GHS-R1a, GHSR-1a}, DPP-4 [NCBI Gene 106021061], POMC (proopiomelanocortin) [NCBI Gene 5443] {aka ACTH, CLIP, LPH, MSH, NPP, OBAIRH}, Ghrl (ghrelin) [NCBI Gene 58991] {aka 2210006E23Rik, Ghr, MTLRP, MTLRPAP, m46}, PCSK2 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 2) [NCBI Gene 5126] {aka NEC 2, NEC-2, NEC2, PC2, SPC2}, GIP [NCBI Gene 101827768], Cck (cholecystokinin) [NCBI Gene 12424], GIP (gastric inhibitory polypeptide) [NCBI Gene 2695], IAPP (islet amyloid polypeptide) [NCBI Gene 3375] {aka DAP, IAP}, PC (pyruvate carboxylase) [NCBI Gene 5091] {aka PCB}, CCK (cholecystokinin) [NCBI Gene 885], GHRL (ghrelin and obestatin prepropeptide) [NCBI Gene 51738] {aka MTLRP}, CALCA (calcitonin related polypeptide alpha) [NCBI Gene 796] {aka CALC1, CGRP, CGRP-I, CGRP-alpha, CGRP1, CT}, GLP2R (glucagon like peptide 2 receptor) [NCBI Gene 9340], Gcg (glucagon) [NCBI Gene 14526] {aka GLP-1, Glu, PPG}, Gip (gastric inhibitory polypeptide) [NCBI Gene 14607], SST (somatostatin) [NCBI Gene 6750] {aka SMST, SST1}, GCG (glucagon) [NCBI Gene 2641] {aka GLP-1, GLP1, GLP2, GRPP}, SSTR4 (somatostatin receptor 4) [NCBI Gene 6754] {aka SS-4-R, SS4-R, SS4R, SST4}, MBOAT4 (membrane bound ghrelin O-acyltransferase MBOAT4) [NCBI Gene 619373] {aka FKSG89, GOAT, OACT4}, AGRP (agouti related neuropeptide) [NCBI Gene 181] {aka AGRT, ART, ASIP2}, Sst (somatostatin) [NCBI Gene 20604] {aka SOM, SRIF, SS, Smst}, LEP (leptin) [NCBI Gene 3952] {aka LEPD, OB, OBS}, GGH (gamma-glutamyl hydrolase) [NCBI Gene 8836] {aka GATD10, GH}, NPY (neuropeptide Y) [NCBI Gene 4852] {aka PYY4}, Dpp4 (dipeptidylpeptidase 4) [NCBI Gene 13482] {aka Cd26, Dpp-4, THAM}, GIPR (gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor) [NCBI Gene 2696] {aka PGQTL2}, SCTR (secretin receptor) [NCBI Gene 6344] {aka SECR, SR}, UCP1 (uncoupling protein 1) [NCBI Gene 7350] {aka SLC25A7, UCP}, IKBKG (inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B kinase regulatory subunit gamma) [NCBI Gene 8517] {aka AMCBX1, EDAID1, FIP-3, FIP3, Fip3p, IKK-gamma}, PRKAA2 (protein kinase AMP-activated catalytic subunit alpha 2) [NCBI Gene 5563] {aka AMPK, AMPK2, AMPKa2, PRKAA}, SCT (secretin) [NCBI Gene 6343], GHRH (growth hormone releasing hormone) [NCBI Gene 2691] {aka GHRF, GRF, INN}, GCGR (glucagon receptor) [NCBI Gene 2642] {aka GGR, GL-R, MVAH}, GLP1R (glucagon like peptide 1 receptor) [NCBI Gene 2740] {aka GLP-1, GLP-1-R, GLP-1R}
- **Diseases:** Diabetes (MESH:D003920), insulin resistance (MESH:D007333), dysmetabolism (MESH:D024821), GIP resistance (MESH:D018149), amyloid (MESH:C000718787), diabetic ketoacidosis (MESH:D016883), Alzheimer's (MESH:D000544), acute pancreatitis (MESH:D010195), Prader-Willi syndrome (MESH:D011218), steatotic liver disease (MESH:D008107), prediabetes (MESH:D011236), overweight (MESH:D050177), Weight loss (MESH:D015431), hepatic toxicity (MESH:D056486), metabolic dysregulation (MESH:D021081), chronic pancreatitis (MESH:D050500), DM (MESH:D009223), adiposity (MESH:D018205), PC (MESH:D015324), incretin defect (MESH:D000013), anorexia (MESH:D000855), Parkinson's disease (MESH:D010300), MAFLD (MESH:D005234), hyperglycemic (MESH:D006944), weight gain (MESH:D015430), inflammatory (MESH:D007249), metabolic disease (MESH:D008659), pancreatic exocrine dysfunction (MESH:C565225), renal function (MESH:D058186), I obesity (MESH:D009765), hyperinsulinemia (MESH:D006946), stroke (MESH:D020521), pancreatic disease (MESH:D010182), gut hormone dysfunction (MESH:C536735), hyperglycemia (MESH:D006943), appetite (MESH:D001068), hypoglycemic (MESH:C000721848), hypertension (MESH:D006973), T2DM (MESH:D003924), cardiac output (MESH:D002303), hypoglycemia (MESH:D007003), MMT (MESH:D013736)
- **Chemicals:** OHA (MESH:D010136), glibenclamide (MESH:D005905), Obestatin (MESH:D054439), cAMP (MESH:D000242), arginine (MESH:D001120), carbohydrate (MESH:D002241), GABA (MESH:D005680), blood glucose (MESH:D001786), serotonin (MESH:D012701), colesevelam (MESH:D000069472), water (MESH:D014867), sulfonylureas (MESH:D013453), adrenaline (MESH:D004837), calcium (MESH:D002118), fatty acid (MESH:D005227), lipid (MESH:D008055), amino acids (MESH:D000596), naltrexone (MESH:D009271), glucose (MESH:D005947), bupropion (MESH:D016642), sodium (MESH:D012964), acarbose (MESH:D020909), MMT (-), metformin (MESH:D008687), bicarbonate (MESH:D001639), fat (MESH:D005223), free fatty acid (MESH:D005230), peptide (MESH:D010455)
- **Species:** Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Rodentia (rodent, order) [taxon 9989]
- **Mutations:** 214C > A, A1C
- **Cell lines:** K- — Clarias batrachus (Walking catfish), Spontaneously immortalized cell line (CVCL_S935), HIT-T15 — Mesocricetus auratus (Golden hamster), Transformed cell line (CVCL_0301), INS-1E beta cell receptors — Rattus norvegicus (Rat), Rat insulinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0351)

## Full text

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## Figures

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## References

6 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12830499/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12830499