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Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV (DPP-4)

Meaning

Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV, abbreviated as DPP-4 and also known as CD26, is a ubiquitous cell-surface glycoprotein enzyme that circulates in soluble form throughout the plasma. In the hormonal domain, this enzyme plays a pivotal role in glucose homeostasis by rapidly degrading a number of bioactive peptides. It specifically cleaves dipeptides from the N-terminus of substrates that contain a proline or alanine residue at the second position. The clinical significance of DPP-4 is highlighted by its pharmacological inhibition as a strategy for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus.