GPR119 agonists as potential new oral agents for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity

Background: GPR119 is a Gαs-protein-coupled receptor expressed predominantly in pancreatic islets and gastrointestinal tract in humans. Objective/methods: To review the available literature on GPR119 agonists. Results: GPR119 de-orphanisation indicates two classes of possible endogenous agonists, phospholipids and fatty acid amides, with oleoylethanolamide and N-oleoyldopamine being the most potent. GPR119 agonists increase intracellular cAMP leading to increased glucose-dependent insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells and incretin secretion from gut enteroendocrine cells. In various animal models of type 2 diabetes and obesity, orally available, potent, selective, synthetic GPR119 agonists: i) lower blood glucose without hypoglycaemia; ii) slow diabetes progression; and iii) reduce food intake and body weight. Conclusions: Oral GPR119 agonists may have the potential to achieve blood glucose control together with body weight loss in type 2 diabetics, an outcome only achievable currently with injectable glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists.