Glycemia Regulation: From Feedback Loops to Organizational Closure

Frontiers in Physiology
Leonardo BichAna M Soto

Abstract

Endocrinologists apply the idea of feedback loops to explain how hormones regulate certain bodily functions such as glucose metabolism. In particular, feedback loops focus on the maintenance of the plasma concentrations of glucose within a narrow range. Here, we put forward a different, organicist perspective on the endocrine regulation of glycaemia, by relying on the pivotal concept of closure of constraints. From this perspective, biological systems are understood as organized ones, which means that they are constituted of a set of mutually dependent functional structures acting as constraints, whose maintenance depends on their reciprocal interactions. Closure refers specifically to the mutual dependence among functional constraints in an organism. We show that, when compared to feedback loops, organizational closure can generate much richer descriptions of the processes and constraints at play in the metabolism and regulation of glycaemia, by making explicit the different hierarchical orders involved. We expect that the proposed theoretical framework will open the way to the construction of original mathematical models, which would provide a better understanding of endocrine regulation from an organicist perspective.

References

Apr 1, 1992·Hormone and Metabolic Research = Hormon- Und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones Et Métabolisme·E P Widmaier
May 1, 1974·Currents in Modern Biology·F G VarelaR Uribe
Sep 7, 2000·Developmental Dynamics : an Official Publication of the American Association of Anatomists·S F Gilbert, S Sarkar
Jan 26, 2002·Microscopy Research and Technique·Takashi Higuchi, Chuma O Okere
Mar 1, 2003·Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology·John A RussellAlison J Douglas
Dec 23, 2003·Best Practice & Research. Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·Geert CarmelietRoger Bouillon
Jul 13, 2004·Artificial Life·Kepa Ruiz-Mirazo, Alvaro Moreno
Mar 20, 2010·Endocrine Reviews·Catherine A Christian, Suzanne M Moenter
Aug 25, 2011·American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism·Rachel A JamisonRichard G Kibbey
Jan 5, 2012·The Journal of Clinical Investigation·Roger H Unger, Alan D Cherrington
Sep 13, 2012·Frontiers in Physiology·Herbert Y GaisanoMladen Vranic
Mar 11, 2015·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Maël Montévil, Matteo Mossio
Oct 23, 2016·Bio Systems·Leonardo Bich, Alvaro Moreno
Dec 3, 2015·Advances in Physiology Education·Harold ModellAnn Wright
Dec 10, 2015·Journal of Biosciences·Giuseppe LongoAna M Soto
Mar 12, 2016·Experimental & Molecular Medicine·Hye-Sook HanSeung-Hoi Koo
Mar 12, 2016·Experimental & Molecular Medicine·Pia V RöderWeiping Han
Aug 9, 2016·Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology·Ana M SotoCarlos Sonnenschein
Aug 22, 2016·Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology·Maël MontévilAna M Soto
Jul 8, 2017·International Journal of Obesity Supplements·B Laferrère
Jul 25, 2018·PLoS Biology·Heather HallMichael Snyder
Jan 8, 2019·Perspectives in Biology and Medicine·Ana M Soto, Carlos Sonnenschein
Oct 18, 2019·Frontiers in Physiology·Leonardo BichJean-François Moreau
Nov 13, 2019·Bio Systems·Athel Cornish-Bowden, María Luz Cárdenas

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 26, 2020·Frontiers in Psychology·Juan M LoaizaSune V Steffensen
Aug 25, 2020·Foundations of Physics·George F R Ellis
Jan 26, 2021·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·William Bechtel, Leonardo Bich
Jan 31, 2021·Nature Reviews. Endocrinology·Ana M SotoCarlos Sonnenschein

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing
G BellomoA Vincenzi
Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology
Matteo MossioGiuseppe Longo
Journal of Hypertension
Cecilia Invitti
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved