GLP-1R and GIPR crosstalk modulates insulinotropic signaling pathways

Drugs targeting glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptors (GLP-1R and GIPR) show strong clinical effects in type 2 diabetes and obesity. Both GIPR agonism and antagonism enhance GLP-1R agonist efficacy, indicating important incretin receptor crosstalk. We show that GLP-1 and semaglutide, but not exendin-4, promote heterodimerization between GLP-1R and GIPR through interactions between TM4 of GLP-1R and TM1/2 of GIPR. Phosphoproteomics and molecular dynamics reveal that dimerizing and non-dimerizing agonists differentially influence GLP-1R, activating divergent signaling pathways in human pancreatic islets. Moreover, semaglutide and exenatide display distinct patterns in their FDA-reported safety profiles. When co-expressed, GLP-1R enhances GIPR signaling in a β-arrestin-dependent manner, while increasing GIPR levels decreases GLP-1R signaling. Additionally, we show that changes in GIPR expression are clinically associated with adiposity and diabetic phenotypes. These findings highlight heterodimerization and receptor expression as key modulators of GLP-1R/GIPR signaling, offering mechanistic insights, and guiding drug design strategies that incorporate receptor crosstalk.