Glucose Energy Metabolism Research Articles

Impaired Glucose Transporter Activity in Pressure-Overload Hypertrophy Is an Early Indicator of Progression to Failure

Background —Severe hypertrophy and heart failure are important risk factors in cardiac surgery. Early adaptive changes in hypertrophy include increased ventricular mass-to-cavity volume ratio (M/V ratio) and increased dependence on glucose for energy metabolism. However, glucose uptake is decreased in the late stages of hypertrophy when ventricular dilatation and failure are present. We hypothesized that impaired glucose uptake would be evident early in the progression of hypertrophy and associated with the onset of ventricular dilatation. Methods and Results —Ten-day-old rabbits underwent banding of the descending aorta. Development of hypertrophy was followed by transthoracic echocardiography to measure left ventricular M/V ratio. Glucose uptake rate, as determined by 31 P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy measuring 2-deoxyglucose conversion to 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate, was measured in isolated perfused hearts obtained from banded rabbits when M/V ratio had increased by 15% from baseline (compensated hypertrophy) and by 30% from baseline (early-decompensated hypertrophy). In age-matched control animals, the rate of glucose uptake was 0.61±0.08 μmol · g of wet weight −1 · 30 min −1 (mean±SEM). With a 15% M/V ratio increase, glucose uptake rate remained at control levels (0.6±0.05 μmol · g of wet weight −1 · 30 min −1 ), compared with hearts with 30% increased M/V ratios, where glucose uptake was significantly lower (0.42±0.05 μmol · g of wet weight −1 · 30 min −1 ; P ≤0.05). Glucose transporter protein expression was the same in all groups. Conclusions —Glucose uptake rate is maintained during compensated hypertrophy. However, coinciding with severe hypertrophy, preceding ventricular dilatation, and glucose transporter protein downregulation, glucose uptake is significantly decreased. Because of the increased dependence of the hypertrophied hearts on glucose use, we speculate that this impairment may be a contributing factor in the progression to failure.

The origins of myocardial substrate utilization from an evolutionary perspective: the enduring role of glucose in energy metabolism.

The origins of myocardial substrate utilization from an evolutionary perspective: the enduring role of glucose in energy metabolism.

The role of glutamine and other alternate substrates as energy sources in the fetal rat lung type II cell.

Glucose has been thought to be the primary substrate for energy metabolism in the developing lung; however, alternate substrates are used for energy metabolism in other organs. To examine the role of alternate substrates in the lung, we measured rates of oxidation of glutamine, glucose, lactate, and 3-hydroxybutyrate in type II pneumocytes isolated from d 19 fetal rat lungs by measuring the production of 14CO2 from labeled substrates. Glutamine had a rate of 24.36 +/- 4.51 nmol 14CO2 produced/ h/mg of protein (mean +/- SEM), whereas lactate had a significantly higher rate, 40.29 +/- 4.42. 3-Hydroxybutyrate had a rate of 14.91 +/- 1.93. The rate of glucose oxidation was 2.13 +/- 0.36, significantly lower than that of glutamine. To examine the interactions of substrates normally found in the intracellular milieu, we measured the effect of unlabeled substrates as competitors on labeled substrate. This identifies multiple metabolic compartments of energy metabolism. Glucose, but not lactate, inhibited the oxidation of glutamine, suggesting a compartmentation of tricarboxylic acid cycle activity, rather than simple dilution by glucose. Glucose and lactate had reciprocal inhibition. Our data suggest at least two separate compartments in the type II cells for substrate oxidation, one for glutamine metabolism and a second for glucose metabolism. In summary, we have documented that glutamine and other alternate substrates are oxidized preferentially over glucose for energy metabolism in the d 19 fetal rat lung type II pneumocyte. In addition, we have delineated some of the compartmentation that occurs within the developing type II cell, which may determine how these substrates are used.

The Role of Glutamine as an Energy Source in the Developing Rat Lung

Because multiple substrates have been shown to play a role in the metabolic homeostasis of different tissues, a series of studies were initiated to examine the role of alternate substrates in the lung. In these studies, we measured rates of oxidation of glutamine, glucose, lactate and 3-hydroxybutyrate in fibroblasts isolated from d 19 fetal rat lungs by measuring the production of 14CO2 from labeled substrates and compared them with earlier studies of isolatedType II cells. The rate of glutamine oxidation was 16.04 nmol 14CO2·mg protein-1·hr-1 in the fibroblasts compared with 24.36 in Type II cells. Three-hydroxybutyrate had a rate of 10.75 in the fibroblastsand 14.9 in the Type II cells. Lactate oxidation in fibroblasts was similar to that of glutamine, with a rate of 18.49; however, in Type II cells the rate of lactate oxidation was significantly higher at 40.29. Glucose was oxidized at a rate significantly lower than the other three substrates. In the fibroblasts, that rate was 1.22 and in Type II cells it was 2.13. To examine the interactions of substrates normally found in the intracellular milieu, we measured the effect of unlabeled substrates as competitors on labeled substrate in the fibroblats, similar to our studies with Type II cells that identified multiple metabolic compartments of energy metabolism in these cell populations. Glucose, but not lactate, inhibited the oxidation of glutamine, suggesting a compartmentation of tricarboxylic acid cycle activity rather than simple dilution by glucose. Glucose and lactate had reciprocal inhibition in the Type II cells. Our data suggest at least two separate compartments in developing lung cells for substrate oxidation: one for glutamine metabolism and a second for glucose metabolism. In summary, we have documented that glutamine and other alternate substrates are oxidized preferentially over glucose for energy metabolism in the d 19 fetal rat lung.

Protective properties of amino acids in liver preservation: effects of glycine and a combination of amino acids on anaerobic metabolism and energetics

Background/Aims/Methods: In this study, we investigated the hepatoprotective effects of three storage solutions containing glycine (180 mM), glycylglycine (180 mM), and a mixture of 20 amino acids (combined concentration of 180 mM) on energy metabolism and levels of glucose and lactate (as an index of glycolytic flux) in rat livers. All effects were compared to those of livers flushed/stored with a modified University of Wisconsin solution. Results: Glycine-treatment showed no improvement in liver energetics (ATP, ADP, AMP) and lactate accumulation; this solution had the lowest buffering capacity of the four tested (approximately 30% of the University of Wisconsin solution). The glycylglycine solution had the highest buffering capacity of the four solutions tested (including University of Wisconsin solution). Complete titration of the glycine-, combined amino acids-, and University of Wisconsin solutions (from 8.0 to pH=6.0) resulted in a minor decrease in glycylglycine buffer pH; pH dropped by 0.2 pH units. In glycylglycine-treated livers, energetics showed an improvement over the first 1 h cold storage; ATP and ‘energy charge’ values remained high and ADP levels (and consequently total adenylate contents) were 0.7–2.4 μmol/g greater than livers stored in University of Wisconsin solution. A 2-fold increase in lactate accumulation suggested that the improvement in liver energetics for the glycylglycine buffer was due to maintained flux through glycolysis brought about by enhanced buffering capacity. The solution containing a combination of amino acids exhibited maximum maintenance of liver energetics via increased glycolytic flux, despite its slightly inferior buffering capacity (85% of University of Wisconsin solution). ATP levels were maintained over the first 2 h storage and ADP levles (and consequently, total adenylate contents) were 1.2–2.1 μmol/g greater than University of Wisconsin solution-treated livers during the entire 24 h storage period. Energy charge values for livers treated with the combination of amino acids were also significantly higher than with glycine-, glycylglycine- and University of Wisconsin solution-treatment; even at 24 h, energy charge was 0.36 (comparable to only 4 h storage in University of Wisconsin solution). Conclusions: Our data suggest that a combination of amino acids may be required for maximum protection of the liver, and furthermore there may be several independent mechanisms, including buffering capacity, responsible for cytoprotection of the liver during cold storage.

Role of oxygen vs. glucose in energy metabolism in a mammary carcinoma perfused ex vivo: direct measurement by 31P NMR.

The role of glycolysis vs. respiration in tumor energy metabolism has been studied, to date, primarily in vitro by using single cells, multicellular spheroids, or tissue slices. With the advent of in vivo NMR spectroscopy, several investigators have shown that tumor energy status depends on its blood flow. Since manipulation of blood flow alters both oxygen and glucose delivery to a solid tumor, these studies have not been able to separate the relative contribution of oxygen vs. glucose in energy metabolism in vivo. In the present study, we have overcome this problem by combining two methods: the tissue-isolated R3230AC mammary adenocarcinoma perfused ex vivo and 31P NMR spectroscopy. The isolated tumor permits one to control the perfusion pressure as well as the metabolite concentrations in the perfusate. NMR spectroscopy permits one to measure the ratio of nucleoside triphosphate to inorganic phosphate (NTP/Pi) and pH. Our results show that (i) the NTP/Pi ratio ex vivo is similar to that observed in vivo prior to surgery, (ii) the NTP/Pi ratio is insensitive to flow changes at high flow rates but is proportional to flow rate at flows comparable to those found in vivo, (iii) the NTP/Pi ratio of these tumors is resistant to hypoxia and is not maintained when glucose is removed or replaced with glutamine, and (iv) although both O2 and glucose are consumed by these tumors, the effect of perfusate flow rate appears to be mediated largely through glucose delivery. The current approach not only provides information about the role of glycolysis vs. respiration in a rodent tumor but also is general and versatile enough to provide similar data in human tumors perfused ex vivo.

Treholose Regulation, One Aspect of Metabolic Homeostasis

One hundred and twenty years ago next year, the remarkably gifted French physi­ ologist, Claude Bernard, conceived the great principle of homeostasis and shortly thereafter enunciated it in the simple statement La fixite du milieu interieur est la condition de la vie libre. Unfortunately, however, the significance of his idea remained unproclaimed during his life and for many years after until it was rediscov­ ered by W. B. Cannon in 1929. This distinguished scientist coined the word ho­ meostasis and, in contemporary terminology, emphasized the fact that a fixed internal environment was made possible only by tIle interplay of a large number of physiological processes (31). Since that time, the central position of glucose in energy metabolism and its presence as the primary blood sugar in large numbers of vertebrates has led to a flood of work concerned with the homeostatic mechanisms involved in its regulation. Trehalose! (O-a-D-glucopyranosyl-[1 � 1]-a-D-glucopyranoside), found in 1957 (59) to occupy the same position in many insects as does glucose in mammals, i.e. a circulating source of energy (16, 58), has been a subject of similar interest. Within recent years, a substantial amount of information has been developed about insects that bears upon substrate level control of blood trehalose concentra­ tion, hormonal regulation of sugar synthesis and degradation, and defenses raised by the animal against nonmetabolic losses of trehalose by simple diffusive processes from blood and tissues. Thus, it would appear to be a propitious moment for putting together some of these elements in an effort to formulate a general overall picture of the production and maintenance of insect blood sugar. There is a relatively large amount of literature concerned with trehalose, but it is not my intention in this review to provide a source compilation. Rather, I have tried to examine only those papers that seem the most germane to the subject delineated in the title. It is naive to believe that a short review of this kind does not create more problems than it settles, but I hope it brings into focus the manifold difficulties involved in trying to characterize the significant regulatory mechanisms.

Stoicheiometrical proton and potassium ion movements accompanying the absorption of amino acids by the yeast Saccharomyces carlsbergensis.

1. Proton uptake into the yeast Saccharomyces carlsbergensis, was studied at pH4.5-5.5 in the presence of both antimycin and 2-deoxyglucose to inhibit energy metabolism. Previous work had shown that the cells then absorbed about 20nmol of glycine or l-phenylalanine against a considerable amino acid concentration gradient. The addition of the amino acid immediately stimulated the rate of uptake of protons two- to three-fold. About 2 extra equivalents of H(+) accompanied a given amount of the amino acids into the yeast preparations exposed to the metabolic inhibitors for 2-4min and about 1.2 equivalents after 20min exposure. 2. Analogous observations were made during serial additions of glycine, l-phenylalanine, l-leucine and l-lysine to preparations lacking the metabolic inhibitors and deficient in substrates needed for energy metabolism. In fresh cellular preparations the influx of glycine was then closely coupled to a stimulated flow of 2.1 equiv. of H(+) into the yeast. A similar number of K(+) ions left the cells. About 30% of the extra protons was subsequently ejected from the yeast. Deoxyglucose and antimycin together inhibited the ejection of protons. When the yeast had been fed with glucose energy metabolism was stimulated and almost as many protons as were absorbed with the amino acid were apparently ejected again. 3. Yeast preparations containing Na(+), instead of K(+), as the principal cation absorbed about 1 extra equivalent of H(+) after the addition of phenylalanine, glycine or leucine. This response was not observed in the presence of both deoxyglucose and antimycin. 4. The observations show that H(+) and, in certain circumstances, K(+) are co-substrates in the transport of the amino acids into the yeast. An analogy is drawn with the roles of Na(+) and K(+) as co-substrates in certain mammalian systems. The results lead to various models relating the physical flow of the co-substrate ions on the amino acid carrier to the transduction of chemical energy in an associated ion pump forming part of the mechanism for transporting amino acids into the yeast.

Inhibition of the mobilization of free fatty acids from adipose tissue. Physiological aspects on the mechanisms for the inhibition of mobilization of FFA from adipose tissue.

The continuous mobilization of FFA (free fatty acids) from adipose tissue into the bloodstream is discussed explained and diagrammed. The process is controlled by many factors in vivo. Sites of inhibition of FFA mobilization and types of mobilization inhibitors are mentioned. Studies on the following inhibitors--nicotinic acid prostaglandins and glucose--are reviewed. Recent studies have shown that essential fatty acids can act as precursors of the PGs (prostaglandins). PGE1 appears to be an inhibitor of the IA type. In addition in conscious man as opposed to anesthesized dogs PGE1 has a stimulatory effect on the mobilization of FFA from adipose tissue. PGE1 seems to interfere with other naturally-occurring mobilizers and inhibitors in living humans. The physiological effects of inhibition of the mobilization of FFA with emphasis on energy metabolism glucose and lipid metabolism in diabetes and hyperlipoproteinemia are discussed.