The Investigation of Molecular Networks Involved in Diabetes Remission Achieved by Metabolic Bariatric Surgery

Poster (download)

Shan Zaidi, Ancha Baranova, Ph.D.
Department of Biology, George Mason University University, Fairfax, VA, USA

Bariatric surgery, which is primarily used to treat obesity, has shown to elicit a remission in type 2 diabetes mellitus in 40 – 50% of patients. After analysis of existing literature concerning metabolic control exerted by gut hormones, we prioritized oxyntomodulin (OXM), peptide YY (PYY), pancreatic polypeptide (PPY), ghrelin, and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) as important
soluble contributors to anti-diabetic effects of bariatric surgery. To find support for this hypothesis, analysis of diabetes-associated genetic networks was performed in Pathway Studio environment. Lowered concentrations of PYY in plasma may contribute to both type 2 diabetes and obesity. The list of molecules with levels elevated post-surgery include GLP-1 and agonists for its receptors, well-known to improve insulin and normalize glucagon defects in diabetic patients. OXM inhibits ghrelin release, thus, displaying a potential for a development as novel therapeutic. We conclude that comprehensive understanding of the post-bariatric changes in gut hormones milieu may produce novel targets for the development of novel anti-diabetic medications.