SMOC1 is a glucose-responsive hepatokine and therapeutic target for glycemic control

Administration of a long-lasting SMOC1-Fc fusion protein improves glycemic control, cholesterol, and NAFLD activity scores in lean and obese mice up to 4 weeks following final administration.

“Administration of a long-lasting SMOC1-Fc fusion protein improved glycemic control, cholesterol, and NAFLD activity scores in lean and obese mice up to 4 weeks following the final administration of SMOC1-Fc [266].”

SMOC1 is a hepatokine recently identified to improve glucose homeostasis in rodents.

“SPARC-related modular calcium-binding protein-1 (SMOC1) is a hepatokine recently identified to improve glucose homeostasis in rodents [266].”

SMOC1 regulates cell matrix interactions by binding to cell surface receptors, including laminins, C-reactive protein, and tenascin-C.

“SMOC1 is known to regulate cell matrix interactions by binding to cell surface receptors, including laminins, C-reactive protein, and tenascin-C [266,268].”

SMOC1 is highly expressed and secreted by the liver and regulates glucose homeostasis.

“However, SMOC1 is highly expressed and secreted by the liver and regulates glucose homeostasis [266].”

Numerous families of secreted signaling molecules bearing the suffix "-kines," such as myokines, osteokines, adipokines, and hepatokines, have been identified in more recent times.

“Hormones were identified and subsequently leveraged for use as therapeutics throughout the 20th century but it is only in more recent times that numerous families of secreted signaling molecules bearing the suffix “‐kines” such as myokines, 243 osteokines, adipokines, 244 and hepatokines 245 have been identified. 242”