Expression of the brain-type glucose transporter is restricted to brain and neuronal cells in mice

Northern blot analysis of human tissues has demonstrated the expression of the brain-type glucose transporter isoform (GLUT 3) in liver, muscle and fat, raising the possibility that this transporter isoform may play a role in the regulation of glucose disposal in these tissues in response to insulin. We have raised an anti-peptide antibody against the C-terminal 13 amino acids of the murine homologue of this transporter isoform, and determined its tissue distribution in mouse tissues and murine-derived cell lines. The antibodies recognise a glycoprotein of about 50 kilodaltons, expressed at high levels in murine brain. In contrast to human tissues, the expression of GLUT 3 in mice is restricted to the brain, and no immunoreactivity was observed in either liver, fat or muscle membranes, or in murine 3T3-L1 fibroblasts or adipocytes. In contrast, high levels of expression of this isoform were observed in the NG 108 neuroblastoma x glioma cell line, a hybrid cell derived from rat glioma and mouse neuroblastoma cells. Taken together, these data suggest that the expression of GLUT 3 in rodents is restricted to non-insulin responsive neuronal cells and hence it is likely that the factors regulating the expression of this transporter in rodents differ to those in humans.