“…GLP-2 functions to maintain the integrity of the intestinal epithelium through enhanced mesenteric blood flow, resulting in increased digestion and absorption of luminal nutrients from an enhanced absorptive surface area (6,11,18,19,30,53). The mechanism by which GLP-2 functions still remains unknown, but promising work has demonstrated multiple downstream mediators of action, including insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), epidermal growth factor (EGF), vascular endothelial growth factor, keratinocyte growth factor, nitric oxide, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and ErbB ligands (12,15,18,19,27,30,35,36,49,50). Phase III clinical trials have recently demonstrated that, in a randomized placebo-controlled trial, patients given teduglutide, a DPP-IV-resistant GLP-2 analog, had a statistically significant decrease in parenteral nutrition (PN) volume and in some cases were liberated from PN (21).…”