Changes In GLUT Research Articles

Effect of an acute long-duration exercise bout on skeletal muscle lipid droplet morphology, GLUT 4 protein, and perilipin protein expression.

Smaller lipid droplet morphology and GLUT 4 protein expression have been associated with greater muscle oxidative capacity and glucose uptake, respectively. The main purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an acute long-duration exercise bout on skeletal muscle lipid droplet morphology, GLUT4, perilipin 3, and perilipin 5 expressions. Twenty healthy men (age 24.0 ± 1.0 years, BMI 23.6 ± 0.4 kg/m2) were recruited for the study. The participants were subjected to an acute bout of exercise on a cycle ergometer at 50% VO2max until they reached a total energy expenditure of 650kcal. The study was conducted after an overnight fast. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were obtained before and immediately after exercise for immunohistochemical analysis to determine lipid, perilipin 3, perilipin 5, and GLUT4 protein contents while GLUT 4 mRNA was quantified using RT-qPCR. Lipid droplet size decreased whereas total intramyocellular lipid content tended to reduce (p=0.07) after an acute bout of endurance exercise. The density of smaller lipid droplets in the peripheral sarcoplasmic region significantly increased (0.584 ± 0.04 to 0.638 ± 0.08 AU; p=0.01) while larger lipid droplets significantly decreased (p<0.05). GLUT4 mRNA tended to increase (p=0.05). There were no significant changes in GLUT 4, perilipin 3, and perilipin 5 protein levels. The study demonstrates that exercise may impact metabolism by enhancing the quantity of smaller lipid droplets over larger lipid droplets.

Fluoride Alteration of [3H]Glucose Uptake in Wistar Rat Brain and Peripheral Tissues

The present study was designed to investigate the role of postnatal fluoride intake on [3H]glucose uptake and transport in rat brain and peripheral tissues. Sodium fluoride (NaF) in a concentration of 10 or 50 ppm was added to the drinking water of adult Wistar rats. The control group received distilled water. After 4 weeks, respective plasma fluoride levels were 0.0541 ± 0.0135 μg/ml (control), 0.0596 ± 0.0202 μg/ml (10 ppm), and 0.0823 ± 0.0199 μg/ml (50 ppm). Although plasma glucose levels were not altered in any group, the plasma insulin level in the fluoride (50 ppm) group was elevated (0.72 ± 0.13 μg/ml) versus the control group (0.48 ± 0.24 μg/ml) and fluoride (10 ppm) group. In rats receiving fluoride for 4 weeks at 10 ppm in drinking water, [3H]glucose uptake was unaltered in all tested parts of the brain. However, in rats receiving fluoride at 50 ppm, [3H]glucose uptake in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus with hypothalamus was elevated, versus the saline group. Fluoride intake had a negligible effect on [3H]glucose uptake by peripheral tissues (liver, pancreas, stomach, small intestine, atrium, aorta, kidney, visceral tissue, lung, skin, oral mucosa, tongue, salivary gland, incisor, molars, and jawbone). In neither fluoride group was glucose transporter proteins 1 (GLUT 1) or 3 (GLUT 3) altered in frontal cortex and striatum versus control. On the assumption that increased glucose uptake (by neural tissue) reasonably reflects neuronal activity, it appears that fluoride damage to the brain results in a compensatory increase in glucose uptake and utilization without changes in GLUT 1 and GLUT 3 expression.

Effects of Fluctuating Glucose Levels on Neuronal Cells In Vitro

There is increasing evidence for glucose fluctuation playing a role in the damaging effects of diabetes on various organs, including the brain. We aimed to study the effects of glycaemic variation (GV) upon mitochondrial activity using an in vitro human neuronal model. The metabolic disturbance of GV in neuronal cells, was mimicked via exposure of neuroblastoma cells SH-SY5Y to constant glucose or fluctuating (i.e. 6 h cycles) for 24 and 48 h. Mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity was determined via MTT assay. Cell mitochondrial activity (MTT) was moderately decreased in constant high glucose, but markedly decreased following 24 and 48 h of cyclical glucose fluctuations. Glucose transport determined via 2-deoxy-D-[1-(14)C] glucose uptake was regulated in an exaggerated manner in response to glucose variance, accompanied by modest changes in GLUT 1 mRNA abundance. Osmotic components of these glucose effects were investigated in the presence of the osmotic-mimics mannitol and L: -glucose. Both treatments showed that fluctuating osmolality did not result in a significant change in mitochondrial activity and had no effects on (14)Cglucose uptake, suggesting that adverse effects on mitochondrial function were specifically related to metabolically active glucose fluctuations. Apoptosis gene expression showed that both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways were modulated by glucose variance, with two major response clusters corresponding to (i) glucose stress-modulated genes, (ii) glucose mediated osmotic stress-modulated genes. Gene clustering analysis by STRING showed that most of the glucose stress-modulated genes were components of the intrinsic/mitochondrial apoptotic pathway including Bcl-2, Caspases and apoptosis executors. On the other hand the glucose mediated osmotic stress-modulated genes were mostly within the extrinsic apoptotic pathway, including TNF receptor and their ligands and adaptors/activators/initiators of apoptosis. Fluctuating glucose levels have a greater adverse effect on neuronal cell energy regulation mechanisms than either sustained high or low glucose levels.

Hyperglycemia-induced activation of human T-lymphocytes with de novo emergence of insulin receptors and generation of reactive oxygen species

Upon activation by phytohemagglutine (PHA), T-lymphocytes (T-cells) express receptors for growth factors, insulin, IGF-1 and IL2 and become insulin sensitive. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is associated with in vivo emergence of these growth factor receptors without incubation with PHA. As DKA consists of multiple metabolic alterations, in addition to hyperglycemia, we investigated the in vitro effect of different concentrations of glucose (5, 15, and 30 mM) in isolated CD4 of human T-cells at various time intervals (0, 24, 48, and 72 h). Hyperglycemia, but not euglycemia, resulted in de novo emergence of growth factor receptors in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. The activation was also associated with incremental changes in GLUT 4, IRS-1, proinflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress components. We propose that activation of T-cells with development of insulin receptors in hyperglycemic conditions may serve as a mechanism for control of glucose entry into these cells, thus, protecting them against glucose toxicity.

Effects of selective hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia on glucose transporters in fetal ovine skeletal muscle.

We measured net fetal glucose uptake rate from the placenta, shown previously to be equal to total fetal glucose utilization rate (GUR(f)) and proportional to fetal hindlimb skeletal muscle glucose utilization, under normal conditions and after 1, 2.5, and 24 h of selective hyperglycemia increasing G or selective hyperinsulinemia increasing I. We simultaneously measured the amount of Glut 1 and Glut 4 glucose transporter proteins in fetal sheep skeletal muscle. With increasing G , GUR(f) was increased approximately 40% at 1 and 2.5 h but returned to the control rate by 24 h. This transient increasing G -specific increasing GUR(f) was associated with increased plasma membrane-associated Glut 1 (4-fold) and intracellular Glut 4 (3-fold) protein beginning at 1 h. With increasing I, GUR(f) was increased approximately 70% at 1, 2.5, and 24 h. This more sustained increasing I-specific increasing GUR(f) was associated with a significant increase in Glut 4 protein (2-fold) at 2.5 h but no change in Glut 1 protein. These results show that increasing G and increasing I have independent effects on the amount of Glut 1 and Glut 4 glucose transporter proteins in ovine fetal skeletal muscle. These effects are time dependent and isoform specific and may contribute to increased glucose utilization in fetal skeletal muscle. The lack of a sustained temporal correlation between the increase in transporter proteins and glucose utilization rates indicates that subcellular localization and activity of a transporter or tissues other than the skeletal muscle contribute to net GUR(f).

Effect of primary congenital hypothyroidism upon expression of genes mediating murine brain glucose uptake.

Using hyt/hyt mice that exhibit naturally occurring primary hypothyroidism (n = 72) and Balb/c controls (n = 66), we examined the mRNA, protein, and activity of brain glucose transporters (Glut 1 and Glut 3) and hexokinase I enzyme at various postnatal ages (d 1, 7, 14, 21, 35, and 60). The hyt/hyt mice showed an age-dependent decline in body weight (p < 0.04) and an increase in serum TSH levels (p < 0.001) at all ages. An age-dependent translational/posttranslational 40% decline in Glut 1 (p = 0.02) with no change in Glut 3 levels was observed. These changes were predominant during the immediate neonatal period (d 1). A posttranslational 70% increase in hexokinase enzyme activity was noted at d 1 alone (p < 0.05) with no concomitant change in brain 2-deoxy-glucose uptake. This was despite a decline in the hyt/hyt glucose production rate. We conclude that primary hypothyroidism causes a decline in brain Glut 1 associated with no change in Glut 3 levels and a compensatory increase in hexokinase enzyme activity. These changes are pronounced only during the immediate neonatal period and disappear in the postweaned stages of development. These hypothyroid-induced compensatory changes in gene products mediating glucose transport and phosphorylation ensure an adequate supply of glucose to the developing brain during transition from fetal to neonatal life.

Intra-uterine growth restriction differentially regulates perinatal brain and skeletal muscle glucose transporters

Employing Western blot analysis, we investigated the effect of maternal uterine artery ligation causing uteroplacental insufficiency with asymmetrical intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) upon fetal (22d) and postnatal (1d, 7d, 14d and 21d) brain (Glut 1 and Glut 3) and skeletal muscle (Glut 1 and Glut 4) glucose transporter protein concentrations. IUGR was associated with a ∼42% decline in fetal plasma glucose ( p<0.05) and a ∼25% decrease in fetal body weights ( p<0.05) with no change in brain weights when compared to the sham operated controls (SHAM). In addition, IUGR caused a ∼45% increase in fetal brain Glut 1 (55 kDa) with no change in Glut 3 (50 kDa) protein concentrations. This fetal brain Glut 1 change persisted, though marginal, through postnatal suckling stages of development (1d–21d), with no concomitant change in brain Glut 3 levels at day 1. In contrast, in the absence of a change in fetal skeletal muscle Glut 1 levels (48 kDa), a 70% increase was observed in the 1d IUGR with no concomitant change in either fetal or postnatal Glut 4 levels (45 kDa). The change in skeletal muscle Glut 1 levels normalized by d7 of age. We conclude that IUGR with hypoglycemia led to a compensatory increase in brain and skeletal muscle Glut 1 concentrations with a change in the brain preceding that of the skeletal muscle. Since Glut 1 is the isoform of proliferating cells, fetal brain weight changes were not as pronounced as the decline in somatic weight. The increase in Glut 1 may be protective against glucose deprivation in proliferating fetal brain cells and postnatal skeletal myocytes which exhibit `catch-up growth', thereby preserving the specialized function mediated by Glut 3 and Glut 4 towards maintaining the intracellular glucose milieu.

Diverse effects of Glut 4 ablation on glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in red and white skeletal muscle.

The ability of muscles from Glut 4-null mice to take up and metabolize glucose has been studied in the isolated white EDL and red soleus muscles. In EDL muscles from male or female Glut 4-null mice, basal deoxyglucose uptake was lower than in control muscles and was not stimulated by insulin. In parallel, glycogen synthesis and content were decreased. Soleus muscles from male Glut 4-null mice took up twice more deoxyglucose in the absence of insulin than control muscles, but did not respond to insulin. In females, soleus deoxyglucose uptake measured in the absence of hormone was similar in Glut 4-null mice and in control mice. This uptake was stimulated twofold in Glut 4-null mice and threefold in control mice. Basal glycogen synthesis was increased by 4- and 2.2-fold in male and female null mice, respectively, compared to controls, and insulin had no or small (20% stimulation over basal) effect. These results indicate that while EDL muscles behaved as expected, soleus muscles were able to take up a large amount of glucose in the absence (males) or the presence of insulin (females). Whether this is due to a change in Glut 1 intrinsic activity or targeting and/or to the appearance of another glucose transporter remains to be determined.

Effects of Troglitazone (CS-045) on insulin secretion in isolated rat pancreatic islets and HIT cells: an insulinotropic mechanism distinct from glibenclamide

In order to elucidate the direct effects of (+/-)-5-[4-(6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-yl-methoxy) benzyl]-2,4-thiazolidinedione (Troglitazone), a newly-developed oral hypoglycaemic agent, on pancreatic beta-cell function, in vitro investigation of isolated rat pancreatic islets and a hamster beta-cell line (HIT cell) were performed. Troglitazone stimulates both glucose, and glibenclamide-induced insulin release at a concentration of 10(-6) mol/l in these cells but, conversely, inhibits insulin secretion at 10(-4) mol/l. Glucose uptake in HIT cells is similarly enhanced by 10(-6) mol/l Troglitazone, but is reduced in the presence of 10(-4) mol/l Troglitazone. However, a quantitative immunoblot analysis with a specific antibody for GLUT 2 glucose transporter revealed no significant change in GLUT 2 protein in HIT cells with 10(-6) mol/l Troglitazone. Specific binding of [3H]-glibenclamide to beta-cell membranes is replaced by Troglitazone in a non-competitive manner, but 10(-6) mol/l Troglitazone failed to eliminate ATP-sensitive K++ channel activity. These results suggest that Troglitazone has a putative non-competitive binding site at, or in the vicinity of, the sulphonylurea receptor in rat pancreatic islets and HIT cells and that the dual effect of Troglitazone on insulin secretory capacity is mediated through the modulation of glucose transport activity, possibly due to the modification of intrinsic activity in glucose transporter in pancreatic beta cells by this novel agent.

Parallel changes in Glut 4 and Rab4 movements in two insulin-resistant states

Insulin-induced Glut 4 and Rab4 movements were studied in two insulin-resistant states. In adipocytes from streptozotocin diabetic rats, the amount of Glut 4 was decreased by 60%. The remaining Glut 4 molecules were translocated in response to insulin, and in parallel, Rab4 left the intracellular compartment. In contrast, in 3T3-L1 adipocytes rendered insulin-resistant by a prolonged insulin treatment, both Rab4 and Glut 4 remained in the intracellular compartment following an acute insulin stimulation. Those results illustrate a similar behavior of Glut 4 and Rab4 in two situations where insulin resistance results from different mechanisms, and add further support for a role of Rab4 in Glut 4 transiocation.

Differential expression of rat pancreatic islet beta-cell glucose transporter (GLUT 2), proinsulin and islet amyloid polypeptide genes after prolonged fasting, insulin-induced hypoglycaemia and dexamethasone treatment.

The question posed by these studies was whether chronic adaptive changes in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion are accompanied by comparable changes in islet Beta-cell glucose transporter (GLUT 2) gene expression. Control, fasted (3-day), insulin-injected hypoglycaemic (5-day), and dexamethasone-treated (4-day) rats (n = 5 for each condition), were studied. After fasting significant decrements in proinsulin mRNA/microgram RNA (-32%, p < 0.05) and islet amyloid polypeptide mRNA/microgram RNA (-44%, p < 0.05) were observed, while there was no change in GLUT 2 mRNA/microgram RNA (-13%, p > 0.05). After insulin-induced hypoglycaemia, decrements in proinsulin mRNA/microgram RNA (-49%, p < 0.01) and islet amyloid polypeptide mRNA/microgram RNA (-44%, p < 0.01) were also observed, with no change in islet GLUT 2 mRNA/microgram RNA (-18%, p > 0.05). Dexamethasone treatment resulted in a marked stimulatory effect on proinsulin mRNA/microgram RNA (+236%, p < 0.001) and islet amyloid polypeptide mRNA/microgram RNA (+221%, p < 0.01), while again there was no change in islet GLUT 2 mRNA/microgram RNA (+0.3%, p > 0.05). Quantitative immunoblot analysis with a GLUT 2 specific antibody revealed no change in islet GLUT 2 protein with fasting, but a small decrease (-39 +/- 11%) in islet GLUT 2/microgram protein after insulin-induced hypoglycaemia. These results do not support the hypothesis that chronic changes in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion are accompanied by changes in GLUT 2 expression. In contrast to the lack of correlation with GLUT 2, there was a striking correlation between proinsulin and islet amyloid polypeptide mRNAs for all experimental conditions (r = 0.974, p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mechanisms regulating cardiac fuel selection in hyperthyroidism.

Starvation (48 h) decreases fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P2) concentrations and the ratio of free to acylated carnitine in hearts of euthyroid rats. These decreases, which are indicative of increased lipid fuel oxidation, are accompanied by decreased rates of glucose uptake and phosphorylation, assessed by using radioactive 2-deoxyglucose. Cardiac concentrations of acylated carnitines were increased at the expense of free carnitine even in the fed state in response to experimental hyperthyroidism, but neither Fru-2,6-P2 concentrations nor rates of glucose utilization were suppressed. Starvation (48 h) did not further increase the proportion of acylated carnitine in the heart in hyperthyroidism, and suppression of Fru-2,6-P2 concentrations and glucose utilization rates by starvation was attenuated. Although glucose utilization rates were decreased, starvation did not decrease immunoreactive GLUT 4 protein concentrations. Furthermore, although hyperthyroidism was associated with a statistically significant (30-40%) increase in relative abundance of GLUT 4 mRNA, the amount of GLUT 4 protein was not increased by hyperthyroidism in either the fed or the starved state. The results demonstrate a significant effect of hyperthyroidism to enhance cardiac glucose utilization in starvation by a mechanism which does not involve changes in GLUT 4 expression but may be secondary to changes in glucose-lipid interactions at the tissue level.

Expression of glucose transporters (GLUT 1 and GLUT 4) in primary cultured rat adipocytes: differential evolution with time and chronic insulin effect.

We previously reported that in cultured adipose cell lines insulin increased selectively the expression of Glut 1, in contrast to in vivo regulation where variations in insulinemia have been shown to affect only GLUT 4. We have addressed here the question of the long-term regulation of GLUT 1 and GLUT 4 in fat cells by using primary cultures of rat adipocytes. Epididymal fat cells were isolated by collagenase and cultured 4 days in DMEM supplemented with BSA 1%, FCS 1%, and glucose 10 mM. GLUT 1 and GLUT 4 proteins were assessed in total cellular membranes by Western blotting, using specific antibodies against their respective C-terminal peptides. GLUT 1 steadily increased over culture time to reach at day 3, a level 3-fold higher than the initial value. In contrast, GLUT 4 decreased sharply and stabilized at day 3, at 30% of the initial value. The changes in GLUT 1 and GLUT 4 mRNAs with culture time were parallel to changes in the corresponding proteins, suggesting a pre-translational level of regulation. The expression of the lipogenic enzyme, fatty acid synthetase (FAS), highly expressed in fat cell, decreased over time following a pattern closely parallel to that of GLUT 4. Chronic exposure to insulin added at day 2 had no effect on GLUT 4 expression but increased the expression of GLUT 1 and FAS by 70% and 36%, respectively. Glucose consumption was stable over 4 days of culture, while lactate production increased from 24 to 36% of glucose utilization, in agreement with the loss in FAS. Glucose consumption increased only slightly with insulin (+160%), in good keeping with the low levels of expression of both GLUT 4 and FAS in these cultured cells. These data indicate that culture alters oppositely the expression of GLUT 1 and GLUT 4 in rat adipocytes and suggest that factor(s) other than insulin predominate in their regulation in vivo.

Divergent regulation of the Glut 1 and Glut 4 glucose transporters in isolated adipocytes from Zucker rats.

We have studied the relationship between glucose uptake rate and Glut 1 and Glut 4 protein and mRNA levels per fat cell in lean (FA/FA) and obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats at 5, 10, and 20 wk of age, and after induction of acute diabetes with streptozotocin. 5 wk obese rats exhibit insulin hyperresponsive glucose uptake, whereas 20 wk obese rats show insulin resistant glucose uptake. The relative abundance of Glut 1 and Glut 4 mRNA and protein per equal amount of total RNA and total membrane protein, respectively, is lower in adipocytes from obese rats. However, at all ages the enlargement of fat cells from obese rats is accompanied by a severalfold increase in total RNA and total membrane protein per cell. Thus, on a cellular basis, mRNA and protein levels of Glut 4 increases in young obese rats and gradually declines as a function of age. Basal glucose uptake is increased severalfold in fat cells from obese rats, and in parallel Glut 1 expression per cell in obese rats is two- to threefold increased over lean rats at all ages. Acute diabetes in 20 wk obese rats causes a profound downregulation of glucose uptake and a concomitant reduction of both Glut 1 and Glut 4 protein levels. Thus, changes in Glut 4 expression are a major cause of alteration in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake of adipocytes during evolution of obesity and diabetes in Zucker rats.

Glucose transporter expression and glucose utilization in skeletal muscle and brown adipose tissue during starvation and re-feeding

Starvation (48 h) decreased the concentration of mRNA of the insulin-responsive glucose transporter isoform (GLUT 4) in interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) (56%) and tibialis anterior (10%). Despite dramatic [7-fold (tibialis anterior) and 40-fold (IBAT)] increases in glucose utilization after 2 and 4 h of chow re-feeding, no significant changes in GLUT 4 mRNA concentration were observed in these tissues over this re-feeding period. The results exclude changes in GLUT 4 mRNA concentration in mediating the responses of glucose transport in these tissues to acute re-feeding after prolonged starvation.

High Fat Feeding Causes Insulin Resistance and a Marked Decrease in the Expression of Glucose Transporters (Glut 4) in Fat Cells of Rats*

With the identification of two different glucose transporter species in adipose cells it is crucial to determine the role of these transporters in the alterations in glucose transport activity associated with different metabolic and nutritional states. In the present study we assess levels of expression of Glut 1 and Glut 4 transporters and basal and insulin-stimulated glucose transport activity in adipocytes from Sprague-Dawley rats fed standard chow (control), combined liquid diet and standard chow (overfed), high fat diet, or energy-restricted diet for 7 weeks. High fat feeding was associated with relative postprandial hypoglycemia (P less than 0.05) and hypoinsulinemia (P less than 0.05). Although the high fat fed animals had lower body weights (P less than 0.05) than control rats, their body compositions showed obesity, with 36% heavier epididymal fat pads (P less than 0.05) and a 47% increase in adipocyte volume (P less than 0.05). Fat feeding caused a 78% reduction in insulin-stimulated glucose transport per adipocyte (P less than 0.05). In parallel we found 92% and 94% reductions in Glut 4 protein and mRNA per adipocyte, respectively, (P less than 0.01) in fat-fed rats. Substantial reductions were also seen in Glut 1 protein and mRNA per fat cell in the same rats (62% and 76%, respectively; P less than 0.05). However, the changes in Glut 1 expression were of the same magnitude as changes in the cytoskeletal protein beta-actin, reflecting a decreased expression of several proteins in this nutritional state. Even though overfeeding and energy restriction brought about opposite changes in adiposity, no significant alterations were demonstrated in glucose transport rate or glucose transporter expression. The impaired insulin-stimulated glucose transport in adipose cells from high fat-fed rats occurs in the presence of a dramatic decrease in the expression of the major insulin-responsive glucose transporter (Glut 4). The reduced gene expression may be caused by chronic hypoinsulinemia and may contribute to the insulin resistance observed in this state.