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15-Deoxy-delta(12,14) prostaglandin J2: a putative endogenous promoter of adipogenesis suppresses the ob gene.

Leptin is considered a key factor in the regulation of appetite and energy expenditure, but little is known about the control of its synthesis and release. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) have recently been shown to downregulate leptin expression, and it has been speculated that downregulation of the ob gene occurs through activation of the transcription factor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma). However, there are no studies using an endogenous PPARgamma ligand. We examined the effect of 15-deoxy-delta(12,14) prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2), a putative natural ligand of PPARgamma, on ob gene expression in fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes and compared its effect with that of two other PPARgamma activators, the TZD troglitazone (Trog) and indomethacin (Indo). 15d-PGJ2, Trog, and Indo all inhibited leptin expression at concentrations at which they activate PPARgamma. The inhibition of leptin expression of PPARgamma activators was surprising, since PPARgamma is known to induce adipogenesis during which the ob gene is expressed. To address the possibility that PPARgamma plays different roles before and after the induction of adipogenesis, we examined the effects of the three PPARgamma ligands on the expression of leptin and the glucose transporter protein GLUT4, both of which are expressed during differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to adipocytes. In the absence of PPARgamma ligands, leptin and GLUT4 synthesis increased from day 3 to day 9 or 10 during differentiation. However, in the presence of any of the three PPARgamma ligands, GLUT4 expression was unaffected, while ob gene expression was inhibited. We hypothesize that PPARgamma may be essential for induction of adipocyte differentiation but then needs to be inactivated to allow expression of the ob gene.

Adipose Tissue↗

Difference between senescence-accelerated prone and resistant mice in response to insulin in the heart.

The effect of insulin on the translocation of GLUT4 (glucose transporter isoform 4) from the intracellular membranes to the plasma membranes was compared in the hearts of 4-8 week old SAMP8, a substrain of senescence-accelerated prone mouse and those of SAMR1, a substrain of senescence-accelerated resistant mouse. After 20 min of the intravenous injection of insulin, the blood glucose levels in SAMR1 and SAMP8 were decreased by 50 and 68%, respectively. Under this condition, the concentrations of GLUT4 protein in the plasma membranes in the hearts of SAMR1 and SAMP8 were increased 1.8- and 2.1-fold, respectively. Concomitantly, the concentrations of the GLUT4 protein in the intracellular membranes in the hearts of SAMR1 and SAMP8 were decreased by about 70 and 50%, respectively. These results suggest that the heart of 4-8 week old SAMP8 is more sensitive to insulin than that of age-matched SAMR1.

Aging↗

Cloning and characterization of a 22 kDa protein from rat adipocytes: a new member of the reticulon family.

In the course of our examination of proteins associated with the GLUT4-containing vesicles of rat adipocytes we have identified a new 22 kDa member of the family of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proteins known as reticulons. The protein, which we refer to as vp20, was purified from a preparation of GLUT4-containing vesicles of rat adipocytes, and tryptic peptides were micro-sequenced. From this information a cDNA encoding a single open reading frame for a protein of 22 kDa was cloned. This protein is homologous to known members of the reticulon protein family. vp20 has two hydrophobic stretches of about 35 amino acids that could be membrane spanning domains and an ER retention motif at its carboxy-terminus. vp20 was most abundant in the high density microsome fraction of adipocytes, which is the fraction most enriched in ER. Only a small fraction of vp20 was present in the GLUT4 vesicle population, and that fraction appears to be due to ER vesicles that were non-specifically bound to the adsorbent. Analysis of tissue distribution of vp20 in rats revealed that it is concentrated in muscle, fat and the brain.

Adipocytes↗

Leptin stimulates glucose uptake in C2C12 muscle cells by activation of ERK2.

Leptin regulates energy homeostasis via binding to receptors in the hypothalamus and peripheral tissues. We have investigated the signaling pathways and effects of leptin on glucose transport in C2C12 muscle cells. Long and short forms of leptin receptor are expressed in differentiated C2C12 myotubes. Leptin enhanced the DNA-binding activity of the transcription factor STAT3 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) activity was stimulated by leptin after 15 min. Leptin increased glucose uptake and GLUT4 recruitment to the cell surface after 30 min, whereas no changes in GLUT1 was observed. PD98059, an ERK2 kinase-1 inhibitor, and wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase blocked the leptin-induced increase in glucose uptake and GLUT4 recruitment to the cell surface. In contrast, insulin-stimulated glucose transport and GLUT4 translocation was inhibited by wortmannin, but not by PD98059. Our results suggest that leptin may regulate glucose metabolism by acting directly on skeletal muscle and that the signaling pathways involved may be different from that activated by insulin.

Androstadienes↗

Myocardial glucose uptake after dobutamine stress in chronic hibernating swine myocardium.

BACKGROUND: In patients with hibernating myocardium, regional uptake of the glucose analog 2-fluorine 18-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) is increased under resting conditions. It is unclear whether the degree of increased FDG uptake correlates with the degree of impaired blood flow response and whether chronic changes in the glucose transporters may play a role in the enhanced FDG uptake under fasted conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twelve swine were instrumented with a constrictor on the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. Serial echocardiography and positron emission tomography studies were done to assess temporal changes in myocardial function, blood flow, and FDG uptake. One week after surgery (early study), wall thickening, blood flow, and postdobutamine FDG uptake in LAD and remote territories were similar. By approximately 6 weeks (late study), baseline wall thickening in the LAD region was lower than in remote regions (20% +/- 7% and 36% +/- 6%, P <.05), as was dobutamine-stimulated blood flow (0.92 +/- 0.16 mL. min(-1). g(-1) and 1.17 +/- 0.20 mL. min(-1). g(-1) in LAD and remote regions, respectively; P <.05). After the dobutamine infusion, FDG uptake in the LAD region during fasted conditions was higher than in remote regions (0.128 +/- 0.053 micromol. min(-1). g(-1) and 0.098 +/- 0.044 micromol. min(-1). g(-1), respectively; P <.05), and the increase was proportional to the impairment in dobutamine blood flow (r(2) = 0.62, P <.001). After the animals were killed, the LAD region showed a higher content of GLUT4 by immunoblots and a greater degree of translocation as estimated by immunohistochemistry. In 5 additional hibernating pigs studied under resting fasted conditions, FDG uptake and GLUT4 translocation were also higher in the LAD region, in the absence of dobutamine stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: In hibernating myocardium, regional FDG uptake under fasting conditions is higher than in remote regions, both at rest and after an infusion of dobutamine. The degree of poststress FDG uptake is proportional to the impaired stress-induced blood flow. Total GLUT4 content as well as membrane-bound protein is higher in the hibernating tissue, and these changes may facilitate the observed increase in FDG uptake.

Animals↗

Role of the C-terminal tail of the GLUT1 glucose transporter in its expression and function in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

Structural determinants for the glucose transport kinetics of the erythrocyte glucose transporter have not been established. In this work the role of the cytosolic carboxy-terminal tail in the expression and function of the human GLUT1 isoform in Xenopus oocytes was investigated. Oocyte plasma membrane expression of GLUT1 was a saturable function of the amount of mRNA injected. Transport activity increased as a linear function of the amount of immunoreactive transporter in the plasma membrane. Transport kinetics of human GLUT1 expressed in oocytes resembled those of human erythrocyte GLUT1. Addition of up to 31 extra amino acids to the carboxy-terminal tail of GLUT1 was without effect on its function in oocytes. Removal of the carboxy-terminal 21 amino acids also did not affect GLUT1 expression or transport kinetics in oocytes. Removal of the entire carboxy-terminal tail to Phe-450 resulted in a transporter that had moderately decreased plasma membrane expression compared to that of GLUT1. However, transport activity of this construct was less than 5% of that of GLUT1, and was associated with loss of its outward-facing inhibitor binding site. When the carboxy-terminal 29 amino acids of GLUT1 were replaced with the corresponding region of GLUT4, transporter expression in the plasma membrane and the transport Vmax fell to low levels, similar to those of native GLUT4. When the carboxy-terminal 29 or 73 amino acids of GLUT1 were swapped into the corresponding region of GLUT4, the transport Vmax markedly increased to about one-third to one-half that of GLUT1, although the affinity for substrate was halved. These results show that the carboxy-terminal tail of the GLUT1 is not critical for targeting of the protein to the plasma membrane, but that this region is an important determinant of transport function.

3-O-Methylglucose↗

Botulinum neurotoxin B inhibits insulin-stimulated glucose uptake into 3T3-L1 adipocytes and cleaves cellubrevin unlike type A toxin which failed to proteolyze the SNAP-23 present.

Types A, B, and C1 botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), a group of selective Zn2+-dependent endoproteases, have been instrumental in demonstrating that their respective substrates [synaptosomal-associated protein with Mr = 25 kDa (SNAP-25), synaptobrevin (Sbr), and syntaxin] are essential for regulated exocytosis from nerve terminals and neuroendocrine cells. The colocalization of Sbr, or its homologue cellubrevin (Cbr), in the majority of the glucose transporter-isotype 4 (GLUT4)-containing vesicles from adipocytes implicates their involvement in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, which results in part from enhanced fusion of these vesicles with the plasmalemma. In this study, exposure of cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes to BoNT/B in a low-ionic strength medium was found to block insulin-evoked glucose uptake by up to 64%. BoNT/B was shown by immunoblotting to cause extensive proteolysis of Cbr and Sbr resulting in a significant blockade of the insulin-stimulated translocation of GLUT4 to the plasmalemma. This establishes that these two toxin substrates contribute to the insulin-regulated fusion of GLUT4-containing vesicles with the plasmalemma, at least in this differentiated 3T3-L1 clone. Although SNAP-25 was not detectable in the differentiated adipocytes, its functional homologue SNAP-23 is abundant and largely confined to the plasmalemma. SNAP-23 proved to be resistant to cleavage by BoNT/A. Consistent with these results, type A did not block insulin-induced glucose uptake, precluding a demonstration of its likely importance in this process.

3T3 Cells↗

Glucose transport-enhancing and hypoglycemic activity of 2-methyl-2-phenoxy-3-phenylpropanoic acids.

A series of 2-phenoxy-3-phenylpropanoic acids has been prepared which contains many potent hypoglycemic agents as demonstrated by assessing glucose lowering in ob/ob mice. Some compounds (32, 33, 59) normalize plasma glucose in this diabetic model at doses of approximately 1 mg/kg. The mechanism of action of these drugs may involve enhanced glucose transport, especially in fat cells, but the compounds do not stimulate GLUT4 translocation and do not increase the levels of GLUT1 or GLUT4 in vivo. Thus, these compounds may enhance the intrinsic activity of the glucose transporter GLUT1 or GLUT4. Some compounds also modestly decrease hepatocyte gluconeogenesis in vitro, but this is not likely to be a major contributor to the hypoglycemic effect observed in vivo. Likewise, a modest decrease in food consumption observed with some of these compounds was shown by a pair-feeding experiment not to be the primary cause of the hypoglycemia observed.

Animals↗

O-GlcNAc modification on IRS-1 and Akt2 by PUGNAc inhibits their phosphorylation and induces insulin resistance in rat primary adipocytes.

It has been known that O-linked beta-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification of proteins plays an important role in transcription, translation, nuclear transport and signal transduction. The increased flux of glucose through the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) and increased O-GlcNAc modification of protein have been suggested as one of the causes in the development of insulin resistance. However, it is not clear at the molecular level, how O-GlcNAc protein modification results in substantial impairment of insulin signaling. To clarify the association of O-GlcNAc protein modification and insulin resistance in rat primary adipocytes, we treated the adipocytes with O-(2-acetamido-2deoxy-D-glucopyranosylidene)amino-N-phenylcarbamate (PUGNAc), a potent inhibitor of O-GlcNAcase that catalyzes removal of O-GlcNAc from proteins. Prolonged treatment of PUGNAc (100 microM for 12 h) increased O-GlcNAc modification on proteins in adipocytes. PUGNAc also drastically decreased insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) uptake and GLUT4 translocation in adipocytes, indicating that PUGNAc developed impaired glucose utilization and insulin resistance in adipocytes. Interestingly, the O-GlcNAc modification of IRS-1 and Akt2 was increased by PUGNAc, accompanied by a partial reduction of insulin-stimulated phosphorylations of IRS-1 and Akt2. The PUGNAc treatment has no effect on the expression level of GLUT4, whereas O-GlcNAc modification of GLUT4 was increased. These results suggest that the increase of O-GlcNAc modification on insulin signal pathway intermediates, such as IRS-1 and Akt2, reduces the insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of IRS-1 and Akt2, subsequently leading to insulin resistance in rat primary adipocytes.

Acetylglucosamine↗

Lowered tumor necrosis factor receptors, but not increased insulin sensitivity, with infliximab.

OBJECTIVES: To verify whether Infliximab could modify insulin sensitivity and TNF-alpha and GLUT4 mRNA expression in muscle and adipose tissue of morbidly obese subjects. Soluble TNF receptors I and II (TNFR-I and TNFR-II) were also assayed. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Six obese subjects were investigated before and 2 weeks after a single intravenous administration of 5 mg/kg Infliximab; insulin sensitivity was evaluated by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp, and TNF-alpha and GLUT4 mRNA expression were assessed by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction on muscle and adipose tissue. TNF-alpha, TNFR-I, and TNFR-II were determined using the ELISA technique. RESULTS: Infliximab infusion did not affect fasting plasma insulin or fasting plasma glucose levels; whole body glucose uptake did not change significantly. TNF-alpha and GLUT4 mRNA did not show any significant change in muscle or adipose tissue. Serum TNF-alpha was undetectable before and after treatment, whereas TNFR-I and TNFR-II concentrations significantly decreased (p < 0.01). DISCUSSION: An explanation for the absence of effect of Infliximab on insulin resistance in morbidly obese subjects may be the paracrine way of action of this cytokine. Because Infliximab is predominantly distributed within the vascular compartment, its effectiveness in penetrating muscle and adipose tissue is potentially low. The significant decrease of TNFR-I and TNFR-II might be ascribed to a targeted effect of Infliximab on the immune system.

Adipose Tissue↗

GRK2 is an endogenous protein inhibitor of the insulin signaling pathway for glucose transport stimulation.

G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) represent a class of proteins that classically phosphorylate agonist-activated G protein-coupled receptors, leading to uncoupling of the receptor from further G protein activation. Recently, we have reported that the heterotrimeric G protein alpha-subunit, Galphaq/11, can mediate insulin-stimulated glucose transport. GRK2 contains a regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) domain with specificity for Galphaq/11. Therefore, we postulated that GRK2 could be an inhibitor of the insulin signaling cascade leading to glucose transport in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In this study, we demonstrate that microinjection of anti-GRK2 antibody or siRNA against GRK2 increased insulin-stimulated insulin-responsive glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) translocation, while adenovirus-mediated overexpression of wild-type or kinase-deficient GRK2 inhibited insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation as well as 2-deoxyglucose uptake. Importantly, a mutant GRK2 lacking the RGS domain was without effect. Taken together, these results indicate that through its RGS domain endogenous GRK2 functions as a negative regulator of insulin-stimulated glucose transport by interfering with Galphaq/11 signaling to GLUT4 translocation. Furthermore, inhibitors of GRK2 can lead to enhanced insulin sensitivity.

3T3-L1 Cells↗

Targeting of GLUT6 (formerly GLUT9) and GLUT8 in rat adipose cells.

The subcellular targeting of the two recently cloned novel mammalian glucose transporters, GLUT6 [previously referred to as GLUT9 [Doege, Bocianski, Joost and Schürmann (2000) Biochem. J. 350, 771-776] and GLUT8, was analysed by expression of haemagglutinin (HA)-epitope-tagged GLUTs in transiently transfected primary rat adipose cells. Similar to HA-GLUT4, both transporters, HA-GLUT6 and HA-GLUT8, were retained in intracellular compartments in non-stimulated cells. In contrast, mutation of the N-terminal dileucine motifs in both constructs led to constitutive expression of the proteins on the plasma membrane. Likewise, when endocytosis was blocked by co-expression of a dominant-negative mutant of the dynamin GTPase, wild-type HA-GLUT6 and HA-GLUT8 accumulated on the cell surface. However, in contrast with HA-GLUT4, no translocation of HA-GLUT6 and HA-GLUT8 to the plasma membrane was observed when the cells were stimulated with insulin, phorbol ester or hyperosmolarity. Thus GLUT6 and GLUT8 appear to recycle in a dynamin-dependent manner between internal membranes and the plasma membrane in rat adipose cells, but are unresponsive to stimuli that induce translocation of GLUT4.

Adipocytes↗

Isolation and characterization of distinct domains of sarcolemma and T-tubules from rat skeletal muscle.

1. Several cell-surface domains of sarcolemma and T-tubule from skeletal-muscle fibre were isolated and characterized. 2. A protocol of subcellular fractionation was set up that involved the sequential low- and high-speed homogenization of rat skeletal muscle followed by KCl washing, Ca2+ loading and sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation. This protocol led to the separation of cell-surface membranes from membranes enriched in sarcoplasmic reticulum and intracellular GLUT4-containing vesicles. 3. Agglutination of cell-surface membranes using wheat-germ agglutinin allowed the isolation of three distinct cell-surface membrane domains: sarcolemmal fraction 1 (SM1), sarcolemmal fraction 2 (SM2) and a T-tubule fraction enriched in protein tt28 and the alpha 2-component of dihydropyridine receptor. 4. Fractions SM1 and SM2 represented distinct sarcolemmal subcompartments based on different compositions of biochemical markers: SM2 was characterized by high levels of beta 1-integrin and dystrophin, and SM1 was enriched in beta 1-integrin but lacked dystrophin. 5. The caveolae-associated molecule caveolin was very abundant in SM1, SM2 and T-tubules, suggesting the presence of caveolae or caveolin-rich domains in these cell-surface membrane domains. In contrast, clathrin heavy chain was abundant in SM1 and T-tubules, but only trace levels were detected in SM2. 6. Immunoadsorption of T-tubule vesicles with antibodies against protein tt28 and against GLUT4 revealed the presence of GLUT4 in T-tubules under basal conditions and it also allowed the identification of two distinct pools of T-tubules showing different contents of tt28 and dihydropyridine receptors. 7. Our data on distribution of clathrin and dystrophin reveal the existence of subcompartments in sarcolemma from muscle fibre, featuring selective mutually exclusive components. T-tubules contain caveolin and clathrin suggesting that they contain caveolin- and clathrin-rich domains. Furthermore, evidence for the heterogeneous distribution of membrane proteins in T-tubules is also presented.

Animals↗

Hormonal regulation of glucose transport in a brown adipose cell preparation isolated from rats that shows a large response to insulin.

Isolated brown adipose cells from rats are prepared whose viability is indicated by the expected stimulation of oxygen consumption by noradrenaline and counter-regulation of this oxygen consumption response by insulin. Insulin stimulates 3-O-methyl-D-glucose transport by approx. 15-fold in the absence of adenosine, and adenosine augments this response at least 2-fold. The insulin-stimulated translocation of the glucose transporter GLUT4 from an intracellular compartment to the plasma membrane is readily detected by subcellular fractionation and Western blotting, and the appearance of GLUT4 on the cell surface in response to insulin is demonstrated by bis-mannose photolabelling. Isoprenaline also stimulates glucose transport activity but only by approx. 3-fold; this effect is not altered by adenosine. Isoprenaline increases insulin-stimulated glucose transport activity in the absence of adenosine but decreases it in the presence of adenosine. These results demonstrate that although the regulation of glucose transport by insulin in brown adipose cells is qualitatively similar to that in white adipose cells, counter-regulation by adenosine and isoprenaline is at least quantitatively and may be qualitatively different. Isolated brown adipose cells from rats thus represent an excellent model for further examination of the mechanism by which multiple hormone signalling pathways interact to control glucose transport and GLUT4 subcellular trafficking.

Adenosine↗

Increased flux through the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway inhibits glucose transport acutely by activation of protein kinase C.

The hexosamine biosynthesis pathway and protein kinase C (PKC) activation mediate hyperglycaemia-induced impaired glucose transport, but the relative role of each pathway is unknown. Following a 2 h preincubation of rat adipocytes in the presence of either high glucose (30 mM) plus insulin (0.7 nM) or glucosamine (3 mM), both high glucose and glucosamine inhibited subsequent basal and insulin-stimulated glucose transport, measured at 5.0 mM glucose. Azaserine, an inhibitor of the enzyme glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase, abolished the effect of high glucose, but not that of glucosamine. Ro-31-8220, an inhibitor of PKC, reversed the effects of both high glucose and glucosamine, suggesting that flux through the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway impaired glucose transport acutely by activating PKC. Both high glucose and glucosamine caused a 3-fold increase in PKC activity; this effect of high glucose, but not that of glucosamine, was partially decreased by azaserine. Neither high glucose nor glucosamine altered basal or insulin-stimulated plasma membrane GLUT1 levels, whereas both treatments decreased basal, but not insulin-stimulated, GLUT4 levels. Azaserine abolished the effect of high glucose, but not that of glucosamine, on basal plasma membrane GLUT4 levels. Ro-31-8220, which returned glucose transport to control values, caused a further decrease in plasma membrane GLUT4 levels. It is concluded that, in rat adipocytes, an acute increase in flux through the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway inhibits glucose transport by activation of PKC.

Adipocytes↗

Increased intracellular sequestration of the insulin-regulated aminopeptidase upon differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells.

In fat and muscle cells, the glucose transporter GLUT4 is sequestered in an intracellular compartment under basal conditions and redistributes markedly to the plasma membrane in response to insulin. Recently, we characterized a membrane aminopeptidase, designated IRAP (insulin-regulated aminopeptidase), that colocalizes with intracellular GLUT4 and similarly redistributes markedly to the plasma membrane in response to insulin in adipocytes. In contrast to GLUT4, IRAP is also expressed in 3T3-L1 fibroblasts, and this finding provided an opportunity to compare its subcellular distribution in fibroblasts and adipocytes. The relative amount of IRAP at the cell surface was measured by a cell surface biotinylation method. The portion of total IRAP at the cell surface in unstimulated adipocytes was 30% of that in unstimulated fibroblasts. Upon insulin treatment the portion of IRAP at the cell surface was the same in fibroblasts and adipocytes, and was increased 1.8-fold in fibroblasts and 8-fold in adipocytes. A similar analysis of the distribution of the transferrin receptor (TfR), the paradigm for recycling plasma membrane receptors, revealed that the portions of the TfR at the cell surface in both the basal and insulin-treated states were almost unchanged upon differentiation, and that insulin caused an increase of about 1. 6-fold in the amount of TfR at the cell surface. These results show that enhanced intracellular sequestration of IRAP occurs during adipogenesis, and that this effect underlies the larger insulin-elicited fold increase of IRAP at the cell surface in adipocytes.

3T3 Cells↗

Altered skeletal muscle glucose transport and blood lipid levels in habitual cigarette smokers.

We determined whether habitual cigarette smoking alters insulin-stimulated glucose transport and GLUT4 protein expression in skeletal muscle. Vastus lateralis muscle was obtained from 10 habitual cigarette smokers and 10 control subjects using an open muscle biopsy procedure. Basal 3-O-methylglucose transport was twofold higher (P < 0.01) in muscle from habitual smokers (0.05 +/- 0.08 vs. 1.04 +/- 0.19 mumol ml-1 h-1; controls vs. smokers respectively). Insulin (600 pmol l-1) increased glucose transport 2.6-fold (P > 0.05) in muscle from control subjects, whereas no significant increase was noted in habitual smokers. Skeletal muscle GLUT4 protein expression was similar between the groups. FFA levels were elevated in the smokers (264 +/- 49 vs. 748 +/- 138 mumol l-1 for control subjects vs. smokers; P < 0.05), and serum triglyceride levels were increased in the smokers (0.9 +/- 0.2 vs. 2.3 +/- 0.6 mmol l-1 for control subjects vs. smokers; P < 0.05). Skeletal muscle carnitine palmitil (acyl) transferase activity was similar between the groups, indicating that FFA transport into the mitochondria was unaltered by cigarette smoking. In conclusion, cigarette smoking appears to have a profound effect on glucose transport in skeletal muscle. Basal glucose transport is markedly elevated, whereas insulin-stimulated glucose transport is impaired. These changes cannot be explained by altered protein expression of GLUT4, but may be related to increased serum FFA and triglyceride levels. These findings highlight the importance of identifying habitual cigarette smokers in studies aimed at assessing factors that lead to alterations in lipid and glucose homeostasis in people with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

3-O-Methylglucose↗

Facilitative glucose transporters in livestock species.

The study of facilitative glucose transporters (GLUT) requires carefully done immunological experiments and sensitive molecular biology approaches to identify the various mechanisms which control GLUT expression at the RNA and protein levels. The cloning of species-specific GLUT cDNAs showed that GLUT4 and GLUT1 diverge less among species than other GLUT isoforms. The key role of GLUT in glucose homeostasis has been demonstrated in livestock species. In vitro studies have suggested specific roles of GLUT1 and GLUT3 in avian cells. In vivo studies have demonstrated a regulation of GLUTs (especially of GLUT4) by nutritional and hormonal factors in pigs and cattle, in lactating cows and goats and throughout the foetal life in the placenta and tissues of lambs and calves. All these results suggest that any changes in GLUT expression and activity (such as GLUT4 in muscles) could modify nutrient partitioning and tissue metabolism, and hence, the qualities of animal products (milk, meat).

Animals↗