Gut hormones, and short bowel syndrome: The enigmatic role of glucagon-like peptide-2 in the regulation of intestinal adaptation

Figure 4 GLP-2 stimulation of the enteric nervous system. GLP-2 binds to 7-TM G protein-coupled receptors localized to components of the ENS. This results in a conformational change in the GLP-2R that eventually activates c-fos expression via the Gαs, AC, c-AMP pathway. This suggests that a rise in circulatory GLP-2 levelsmight stimulate the GLP-2R leading to an increased stimulation of the myenteric and/or submucosal neurons. Potentially the trophic effects on the gut mucosa associated with GLP-2 are the result of a second downstream mediator, either a neurotransmitter or direct innervation that is activated upon GLP-2’s initial stimulation of the ENS localized GLP-2R.