Cellular localization and characterization of Glut 3 glucose transporter isoform in human brain

In the present study we examined the expression and localization of Glut 3 in human brain using peptide-specific antisera. Glut 3 was expressed at 2-3 times higher levels in cerebral cortex from adult (n = 6) compared to that from neonatal infants (n = 4; P less than 0.05). However, similar levels of immunoreactive Glut 3 were present in cerebellum from adults (n = 6) and newborns (n = 4). Cellular localization of Glut 3 in adult (n = 5) and neonatal (n = 5) infant brains was undertaken by immunohistochemical analysis. Glut 3 was visible in the adult neuropil of the cerebral cortex; in certain cellular processes within the deeper cortical layers; in intravascular white cells, including monocytes, lymphocytes and granulocytes; and in microvascular endothelial cells. Neither the premature nor the mature newborn cerebral cortex exhibited Glut 3 labeling in the neuropil or microvasculature. In the cerebellum, given the stratified nature of the cellular arrangement, Glut 3 was more clearly and definitively noted in the cellular processes at all stages of development. Double labeling studies using neuronal (neurofilament) and astrocytic (glial fibrillary acidic protein) markers indicated that Glut 3 was primarily expressed in neurons. We conclude that Glut 3 is localized in many cellular components, including white blood cells in human brain. The prominent localization of Glut 3 to mature neuronal processes suggests an essential role for this transporter in regulating fuel requirements for dendritic and axonal traffic, thereby mediating neurotransmission. Further study is required to address the possibility that another as yet undefined glucose transporter isoform is expressed in other cell-specific regions of the brain.