Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine: http://www.expertreviews.org/
DOI: 10.1017/S1462399406010490; 7 February 2006
Charles W. Heilig, Frank C. Brosius III and Carol Cunningham (2006) Role for GLUT1 in diabetic glomerulosclerosis.
Expert Rev. Mol. Med. Vol. 8, Issue 4, DOI: 10.1017/S1462399406010490

Role for GLUT1 in diabetic glomerulosclerosis

Charles W. Heilig, Frank C. Brosius III and Carol Cunningham

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Numerous studies have investigated specific pathways that link diabetes and high extracellular glucose exposure to glomerulosclerosis and mesangial cell extracellular matrix production. However, only in the past ten years has a role for glucose transporters in this process been addressed. Many different glucose transporters are expressed in glomeruli; of these, the GLUT1 facilitative glucose transporter is upregulated in the diabetic renal cortex and in response to glomerular hypertension, as well as in cultured mesangial cells exposed to high glucose. Transgenic mouse and cell models have recently been developed to test the role of GLUT1 in the pathogenesis of glomerulosclerosis with and without diabetes. Clinical studies of GLUT1 alleles performed in humans have identified GLUT1 susceptibility alleles for diabetic nephropathy. Studies are also currently under way to assess the potential role of GLUT1 in nondiabetic renal disorders.

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Figure 1. Pathways from glucose entry to extracellular matrix production in cells with increased GLUT1 expression.
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Figure 2. The 5' flanks of the human and mouse GLUT1 genes.
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Table 1. Glucose transporter expression in whole glomeruli and in specific glomerular cell types.
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Table 2. GLUT1 susceptibility alleles for diabetic nephropathy.
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