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Identification and function of glucose transporter 1 in human mesangial cells
1Institute of Nephropathy, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing 210002, China.
Objective:
To evaluate the role of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) in the glucose uptake of glomerular mesangial cells.
Methods:
Cultured human glomerular mesangial cells were used. The expressions of glucose transporter 1 mRNA and protein were detected with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining. Glucose uptake was determined with 2-deoxy-[3H]-D-glucose uptake assay.
Results:
The expressions of GLUT1 mRNA and proteins were detected in human mesangial cells. Glucose uptake and its kinetics assay showed that GLUT1 is a functional glucose transporter in cultured human mesangial cells, and that its function could be inhibited by the specific inhibitor, Phloretin.
Conclusion:
GLUT1 is the predominant glucose transporter in human mesangial cells, which has the kinetic characteristics of high affinity and low capacity for D-glucose. This suggests that in order for mesangial cells to take up excessive quantities of glucose, as in diabetes, changes in glucose transporter expression, translocation or activity may be required.