Glucose is a major source of energy in animals. Maintaining blood glucose levels within a physiological range is important for facilitating glucose uptake by cells, as required for optimal functioning. Glucose homeostasis relies on multiple glucose-sensing cells in the body that constantly monitor blood glucose levels and respond accordingly to adjust its glycemia. These include not only pancreatic β-cells and α-cells that secrete insulin and glucagon, but also central and peripheral neurons regulating pancreatic endocrine function. Different types of cells respond distinctively to changes in blood glucose levels, and the mechanisms involved in glucose sensing are diverse. Notably, recent studies have challenged the currently held views regarding glucose-sensing mechanisms. Furthermore, peripheral and central glucose-sensing cells appear to work in concert to control blood glucose level and maintain glucose and energy homeostasis in organisms. In this review, we summarize the established concepts and recent advances in the understanding of cellular and systemic mechanisms that regulate glucose sensing and its homeostasis.

葡萄糖是动物能量的主要来源。将血糖水平维持在生理范围内对于促进细胞摄取葡萄糖很重要，这是最佳功能所需的。葡萄糖稳态依赖于体内的多个葡萄糖感应细胞，它们不断监测血糖水平并相应地做出反应以调整其血糖。这些不仅包括分泌胰岛素和胰高血糖素的胰腺 β 细胞和 α 细胞，还包括调节胰腺内分泌功能的中枢和外周神经元。不同类型的细胞对血糖水平的变化有不同的反应，并且葡萄糖传感所涉及的机制各不相同。值得注意的是，最近的研究挑战了目前关于葡萄糖感应机制的观点。此外，外周和中枢葡萄糖感应细胞似乎协同工作以控制血糖水平并维持生物体内的葡萄糖和能量稳态。在这篇综述中，我们总结了在理解调节葡萄糖感应及其稳态的细胞和系统机制方面的既定概念和最新进展。