Expression Of Glucose Transporter Isoforms Research Articles

Characterization of glucose transporter isoforms in the adult and developing human eye.

The expression of glucose transporter isoforms (Glut 1, Glut 3, Glut 4, and Glut 5) in the human eye was investigated at various ages ranging between 8 weeks gestation (first trimester) and adult using Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses. Glut 1 and Glut 3 expression and cellular localization patterns were similar to those of human brain. Glut 1 (50-kilodalton protein) was expressed by epithelial cells (retinal pigmented epithelium, choroidal, iridial, and pars planus), which form the blood-eye barrier, retinal Mueller cells, the lens fiber cells, iridial microvascular endothelial cells, and to a lesser extent by the outer segments of the photoreceptor cells in the adult eye. This pattern was conserved throughout development and was evident as early as 8 weeks gestation. In addition, the endothelial cells of vitreous hyaloid vessels expressed Glut 1 at 8 weeks gestation. Glut 3 (50 to 55-kilodalton protein) immunoreactivity was observed only in the adult inner synaptic layer of the retina. Neither Glut 4 nor Glut 5 was expressed in any occular tissue at any age examined. These results suggest that Glut 1 is the main glucose transporter of the human eye and that it is ontogenically conserved. In contrast, Glut 3 is associated with selective neuronal processes, and its expression is developmentally altered.

Expression of glucose transporter isoforms with aging.

To elucidate the cellular mechanisms for impairment of glucose metabolism associated with aging, the facilitative glucose transporter protein and mRNA were studied in various tissues of young (7-week-old) and aged (20-month-old) rats. GLUT4 glucose transporter protein, a major glucose transporter isoform in the insulin-responsive tissues, was selectively decreased in the epididymal fat tissues of the aged rats compared with the young rats. This decrease is likely to be due to a decrease in protein synthesis rather than in protein stability, since GLUT4 mRNA per unit cellular total RNA was also decreased. GLUT4 mRNA in the skeletal muscle was rather increased in spite of the decreased level of GLUT4 protein in the aged rats, suggesting that the translational efficiency and/or stability of GLUT4 protein is decreased in the skeletal muscle of the aged rats compared with the young rats. In contrast to these alterations in GLUT4 expression, no apparent decrease in the GLUT1 protein amount was observed in the fat tissues, skeletal muscle and brain of the aged rats compared with the young rats. Thus, the tissue and isoform-specific alterations in glucose transporter expression are associated with aging and may contribute to impairment of glucose metabolism observed with aging.

Altered expression of glucose transporter isoforms with aging in rats ? selective decrease in GluT4 in the fat tissue and skeletal muscle

To elucidate the cellular mechanisms of glucose intolerance associated with aging, both the protein and mRNA levels of glucose transporter isoforms were studied in the various tissues of young (7-week-old) and aged (20-month-old) rats. GluT4 (adipose/muscle-type glucose transporter) protein, which is specifically expressed in insulin-responsive tissues, was selectively decreased per milligram of cellular membrane protein in both the epididymal fat tissues and the gastrocnemius muscle of the aged rats compared with the young rats. When the changes in total cellular membranes per gram of tissue are taken into account, a further decrease in GluT4 protein per gram of tissue was observed in the tissues of the aged rats compared with the young rats. The decreased amount of GluT4 protein in the fat tissues of the aged rats is probably due to the decreased protein synthesis rather than the stability, since GluT4 mRNA/micrograms of cellular total RNA was also decreased. In contrast, GluT4 mRNA in the gastrocnemius muscle was rather increased and a ratio of GluT4 protein/GluT4 mRNA was decreased by 70% in the aged rats, suggesting that the translational efficiency and/or stability of GluT4 protein is decreased in the skeletal muscle of the aged rats compared with the young rats. GluT2 (liver-type glucose transporter) protein and mRNA in the liver were also decreased in the aged rats, while no apparent decrease in GluT1 (HepG2/brain-type glucose transporter) protein/mg of cellular membrane protein was observed in the skeletal muscle and fat tissues of the aged rats compared with the young rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Establishment of a Pancreatic β Cell Line That Retains Glucose-Inducible Insulin Secretion: Special Reference to Expression of Glucose Transporter Isoforms*

Two cell lines have been established from insulinomas obtained by targeted expression of the simian virus 40 T antigen gene in transgenic mice. These cell lines, designated MIN6 and MIN7, produce insulin and T antigen and have morphological characteristics of pancreatic beta cells. MIN6 cells exhibit glucose-inducible insulin secretion comparable with cultured normal mouse islet cells, whereas MIN7 cells do not. Both cell lines produce liver-type glucose transporter (GT) mRNA at high level. Brain-type GT mRNA is also present at considerable level in MIN7 cells, but is barely detectable in MIN6 cells, suggesting that exclusive expression of the liver-type GT is related to glucose-inducible insulin secretion. MIN6 cells do not express either major histocompatibility (MHC) class I or class II antigens on the cell surface. However, treatment with interferon-gamma induces high levels of MHC class I antigens, and a combination of interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha induces a MHC class II antigen on the cell surface. These results emphasize that the MIN6 cell line retains physiological characteristics of normal beta cells. The MIN6 cell line will be especially useful to analyze the molecular mechanisms by which beta cells regulate insulin secretion in response to extracellular glucose concentrations. We discuss a possible role of GT isoforms in glucose sensing by beta cells.