Searching for ways to upregulate GLUT4 glucose transporter expression in muscle
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Updated: Oct 27, 2026

Glucose Uptake Measurement and Response to Insulin Stimulation in In Vitro Cultured Human Primary Myotubes
Published on: June 25, 2017
A Zorzano1, T Santalucia, M Palacín
1Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain. azorzano@porthos.bio.ub.es
Abstract:
1. Skeletal muscle is a major glucose-utilizing tissue in the absorptive state and alterations in muscle insulin-stimulated glucose uptake lead to derangements in whole body glucose disposal. 2. Furthermore, muscle GLUT4 overexpression in transgenic animals ameliorates insulin resistance associated with obesity or diabetes, which suggests that increasing GLUT4 in muscle by pharmacological intervention may be an effective therapy in insulin-resistant states. 3. This highlights the importance of understanding the pathways that upregulate GLUT4 glucose transporter expression in muscle. 4. We review studies describing the regulation of GLUT4 and the information currently available on the mechanisms that control GLUT4 expression in muscle.
Related Concept Videos
Glucose Transporters
Facilitated diffusion-glucose transporters (GLUTs) are encoded by the solute-linked carrier (SLC) family 2, subfamily A gene family, or SLC2A. The 14 GLUT protein members are distributed into three classes:
Secondary Active Transport
Glucose Absorption Into the Small Intestine

