Glucagon in metabolic disease: a mini-review of emerging multi-organ roles beyond glycemic control.

Abstract in brief

• Glucagon, once known mainly for its role in raising blood sugar, is now recognized as an important regulator of overall energy balance and has diverse roles across multiple organs, including influences on amino acid metabolism, fat burning, appetite, heat production, and heart health.
• The review emphasizes that imbalances in glucagon, such as excessive activity or resistance, are not yet fully understood, especially in chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, kidney disease, obesity, and hypertension, and may be key factors in the development of these complications.
• Understanding the mechanisms of glucagon signaling and its impact on different organs can lead to new therapeutic strategies, with the hypothesis that changes in long-term glucagon secretion might drive some of the systemic damage seen in diabetic and cardiometabolic conditions.]