Hepatic glucose metabolism

Hepatic glucose metabolism refers to the collection of biochemical pathways and regulatory mechanisms by which the **liver maintains blood glucose homeostasis**. This includes four main processes: glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis, and glycogenesis. The liver acts both as a producer and consumer of glucose depending on physiological needs—exporting it during fasting via gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis, and importing/storing it after meals through glycolysis and glycogenesis[1][2][3]. These processes are tightly regulated by hormones such as insulin and glucagon[1][2], with additional modulation by signaling molecules like cAMP, AMP/ATP ratio, citrate, alanine[3], endocannabinoids[4], transcription factors[6], among others. Dysregulation is central to diseases such as diabetes mellitus—where increased hepatic gluconeogenesis contributes to hyperglycemia—and other metabolic disorders[5]. While many drugs act on specific enzymes or receptors involved in these pathways (e.g., glucokinase activators), "hepatic glucose metabolism" itself is not a single molecular entity or canonical therapeutic target but rather an umbrella term describing integrated liver functions essential for systemic energy balance.

Other names

Hepatic glucose metabolismLiver glucose metabolismGlucose homeostasis in liver