Final answer:
DPP-4 inhibitors prolong the activity of incretin hormones which stimulate insulin release, maintain blood glucose level, and do not cause hypoglycemia. They may encourage weight gain and increased appetite, possibly due to the secretion of the pancreatic polypeptide hormone by PP cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject at hand is Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4 inhibitors). These are a class of medication that operate by prolonging the activity of incretin hormones. Incretin hormones, such as glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), play a critical role in maintaining blood glucose balance by stimulating the release of insulin from the beta cells of the pancreas.
Insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas, stimulates the uptake of glucose into the cells, thereby reducing blood glucose levels. It also promotes triglyceride and protein synthesis. Yet, DPP-4 inhibitors do not cause hypoglycemia which is excessively low blood sugar levels, a common side effect of some diabetes drugs.
On the other hand, it has been suggested that DPP-4 inhibitors can cause weight gain and increased appetite. This could be due to the effects of the pancreatic polypeptide hormone, which is believed to play a role in appetite and is secreted by the PP (Pancreatic polypeptide) cells of the pancreas. It is noted that PP cell accounts for about one percent of islet cells.
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