GLUT-1 Expression in Bovine Retinal Capillary Endothelial Cells and Pericytes Exposed to Advanced Glycation End Products

Abstract

Glucose uptake and glucose transporter GLUT-1 expressions are characteristic of retinal capillary endothelial cells and pericytes in response to high glucose. In this study, the effects of advanced glycation end product (AGE-BSA) exposure on these parameters were tested. Primary cultures of bovine retinal capillary endothelial cells (BRECs) and bovine retinal capillary pericytes (BRPs) were exposed to AGE-BSA (100 μg/mL) for 6 days. Glucose uptake was measured using U (14)C-glucose and the GLUT-1 mRNA expression by RT-PCR. GLUT-1 protein was detected by immunofluorescence and subjected to FACS analysis. The authors observed that there was no significant decrease in the GLUT-1 protein expression, and this was confirmed by glucose uptake by (14)C-labeled glucose in both BRECs and BRPs. Even though there was a slight decrease in the mRNA expression of GLUT-1 in AGE-BSA-treated cells compared with both untreated control and BSA treated, the decrease was not significant. This is the first report to show that there is no difference in glucose uptake in BRECs and BRPs on exposure to AGE-BSA.