Immunoassays for the incretin hormones GIP and GLP-1

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

The measurement of the incretin hormones, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), using immunologically based assays is made difficult by the fact that the processing of the precursor molecules gives rise to a number of different peptides which cross-react with antisera raised against the two hormones. For GLP-1, the picture is further complicated because of the necessity to differentiate between the intestinal and pancreatic proglucagon products. Finally, once secreted, both incretins are rapidly degraded by the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) to generate metabolites which have lost their insulinotropic activities. These metabolites are the major circulating forms of the incretins, accounting for 60-80% of total immunoreactive GLP-1 and GIP in the peripheral plasma, while concentrations of the intact forms can be very low and, in some cases, barely detectable. The use of highly specific assays using well-characterised antisera and careful sample handling is therefore required for a reliable determination of incretin hormone concentrations.
Original languageEnglish
JournalBest Practice & Research: Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Volume23
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)425-32
Number of pages7
ISSN1521-690X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009

Bibliographical note

Keywords: Antigens, CD26; Cross Reactions; Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; Humans; Proglucagon; Radioimmunoassay

ID: 18699416