Comment on Tabatabaei Dakhili et al. The Antipsychotic Dopamine 2 Receptor Antagonist Diphenylbutylpiperidines Improve Glycemia in Experimental Obesity by Inhibiting Succinyl-CoA:3-Ketoacid CoA Transferase. Diabetes 2023;72:126 –134

The recent article from Tabatabaei Dakhili et  al. (1) describes some elegant studies that indicate that the antipsychotic diphenybutylpyridine (DPBP) drugs, particularly pimozide, can alleviate obesity-induced type 2 diabetes. They use in  vitro, in vivo, and in silico techniques to demonstrate a noncanonical action of these dopamine 2 (D2) receptor antagonists in reducing hyperglycemia via a reduction of succinyl CoA:3-ketoacid CoA transferase (SCOT) activity. They conclude that this indicates the potential for drug repurposing of the DPBPs, as they “appear relatively safe in humans,” a conclusion reiterated by Max Bingham’s editorial (2).
Source: Diabetes - Category: Endocrinology Source Type: research