A Peking University study has discovered a new drug target to fight diabetes: an enzyme in the gut microbiota called microbial dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), which affects glucose regulation. Research shows that inhibiting DPP4 could improve the efficacy of existing diabetes drugs and facilitate the development of new treatments.
Researchers at Peking University have discovered a new potential drug target that could improve the effectiveness of diabetes treatments. DPP4 is an enzyme from the gut microbiota that plays a key role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
A joint study by Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University Third Hospital, and Peking University School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering showed that DPP4 can degrade host glucagon and lead to impaired glucose homeostasis.
The researchers also found that because sitagliptin cannot effectively inhibit the activity of DPP4, the enrichment of peptidases in the host body will greatly reduce the clinical efficacy of sitagliptin, a commonly used diabetes treatment drug.
Researchers are currently working to find ways to inhibit the activity of the DPP4 enzyme, which could potentially improve the efficacy of existing drugs or even discover new treatments.
According to the study, this discovery is expected to have a significant impact on further understanding the pathogenesis of diabetes and improving the efficacy of related drugs.