Deji-Oloruntoba O, Okpete UE, Byeon H. Editorial on amylase and the acini–islet–acinar reflex: A new frontier in metabolic health research. World J Exp Med 2025; 15(1): 101289 [DOI: 10.5493/wjem.v15.i1.101289]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Haewon Byeon, PhD, Associate Professor, Director, Department of Digital Anti-aging Healthcare (BK21), Inje University, 197 Injero, Gimhae 50834, South Korea. bhwpuma@naver.com
Research Domain of This Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Exp Med. Mar 20, 2025; 15(1): 101289 Published online Mar 20, 2025. doi: 10.5493/wjem.v15.i1.101289
Editorial on amylase and the acini–islet–acinar reflex: A new frontier in metabolic health research
Opeyemi Deji-Oloruntoba, Uchenna E Okpete, Haewon Byeon
Opeyemi Deji-Oloruntoba, Biohealth Convergence Unit, Food and Drug Biotechnology, Inje University, Gimhae 50834, South Korea
Uchenna E Okpete, Haewon Byeon, Department of Digital Anti-aging Healthcare (BK21), Inje University, Gimhae 50834, South Korea
Co-first authors: Opeyemi Deji-Oloruntoba and Uchenna E Okpete.
Author contributions: Deji-Oloruntoba O, Okpete UE and Byeon H contributed to this paper; Byeon H designed the study; Deji-Oloruntoba O, Okpete UE involved in data interpretation and developed methodology; Deji-Oloruntoba O, Okpete UE and Byeon H assisted with writing the article.
Supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, No. NRF-RS-2023-00237287, No. NRF-2021S1A5A8062526; and Local Government-University Cooperation-Based Regional Innovation Projects, No. 2021RIS-003.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Haewon Byeon, PhD, Associate Professor, Director, Department of Digital Anti-aging Healthcare (BK21), Inje University, 197 Injero, Gimhae 50834, South Korea. bhwpuma@naver.com
Received: September 11, 2024 Revised: November 5, 2024 Accepted: November 20, 2024 Published online: March 20, 2025 Processing time: 107 Days and 0.7 Hours
Abstract
This editorial comments on the study by Pierzynowska et al investigating the acini-islet-acinar (AIA) reflex, which integrates the exocrine and endocrine functions of the pancreas. The study investigates whether exogenous amylase introduced to the interstitial fluid surrounding pancreatic islets can inhibit insulin release. Historically, high serum amylase levels were associated with pancreatitis, but recent findings suggest that low amylase levels are more linked to metabolic diseases like diabetes and obesity. In their experiment, six pigs were used to examine the effects of amylase infusion on insulin release during an intravenous glucose tolerance test. The pigs received different treatments (amylase, saline, or bovine serum albumin), and blood samples were taken over two hours to measure insulin and glucose levels. The results showed amylase delayed glucose-stimulated insulin release, whereas bovine serum albumin increased insulin levels supporting the existence of the AIA reflex and suggesting amylase as a key metabolic regulator. Enzyme supplementation, particularly with α-amylases, may offer therapeutic benefits in preventing and managing metabolic disorders, including diabetes and obesity. Further research is warranted to explore the full scope of amylase’s role in metabolic health and its therapeutic potential.
Core Tip: This editorial emphasizes the critical role of α-amylase, an enzyme essential for starch digestion, in metabolic regulation beyond its digestive function. Recent studies, including that of Pierzynowska et al, demonstrate that amylase can inhibit insulin secretion, delaying glucose clearance and increasing blood sugar levels, with effects persisting even after the infusion. This suggests amylase’s influence on pancreatic signaling and confirms the existence of the acini-islet-acinar reflex. Understanding the broader metabolic role of amylase may open therapeutic avenues for conditions like diabetes and obesity through enzyme supplementation, highlighting the need for further research into its regulatory mechanisms.
