Hypoglycemia and PDX1 Targeted Therapy

Hypoglycemia, which refers to dangerously low glucose level in blood, is a potential life-threatening condition. The causes of different types of hypoglycemia could vary. Multiple preventive and therapeutic managements for hypoglycemia are currently under investigations. Pancreatic and Duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX1), also known as insulin promoter factor 1, is one of the most important transcriptional factors for insulin and glucose regulation in pancreatic islet beta cells. Herein, this topic will review several aspects of hypoglycemia, including the causes of hypoglycemia, PDX1 function in insulin regulation, existing hypoglycemia animal models and the potentials of PDX1 targeted therapy in treating patients with hypoglycemia. Keywords: Hypoglycemia; PDX1; Insulinoma; Diabetes