Glucagon cell hyperplasia and neoplasia: a recently recognized endocrine receptor disease

Abstract

Glucagon cell hyperplasia and neoplasia (GCHN) is the name of an endocrine receptor disease, whose morphology was first described in 2006. Three years later, this rare disease was found to be to be caused by an inactivating mutation of the glucagon receptor (GCGR) gene. Functionally, the genetic defect mainly affects glucagon signaling in the liver with changes in the metabolism of glycogen, fatty acids and amino acids. Recent results of several studies in GCGR knockout mice suggested that elevated serum amino acid levels probably stimulate glucagon cell hyperplasia with subsequent transformation into glucagon cell neoplasia. This process leads over time to numerous small and some large pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors which are potentially malignant. Despite high glucagon serum levels, the patients develop no glucagonoma syndrome. In 2015, GCHN was identified as an autosomal recessive hereditary disorder.