Gene expression of epithelial glucose transporters

Abstract

The functions of absorption of dietary glucose by the small intestine and reabsorption of filtered glucose by the renal proximal tubule are strikingly similar in their organization and in the way they adapt to uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. In both cases, transepithelial glucose and Na+ fluxes are augmented. The epithelial adaptations to hyperglycemia of uncontrolled diabetes are accomplished by increasing the glucose transport surface area and the number of the efflux glucose transporter GLUT2 located in the basolateral membrane. The signals that modify the size of the epithelium and the overexpression of basolateral GLUT2 are not known. It was speculated that high glucose levels and enhanced Na+ flux may be important factors in the signaling event that culminates in a renal and intestinal epithelium that is modified to transport higher rates of glucose against a higher extracellular level of glucose.

The Mechanism of Hyperglycemia-Induced Renal Cell Injury in Diabetic Nephropathy Disease: An Update

“…Still, surprisingly, the degree and specific mechanism of TECs phenotypic transformation induced by hyperglycemia is not clear. It has been reported that once the concentration of glucose in renal epithelial cells is higher than the interstitial glucose level; it will spread to the interstitium through a specific glucose transporter (GLUTs), in a high glucose environment, GLUTs are the cause of glucose flow into various glomerular cells, and glucose transport may play a central role in glomerulosclerosis [ 108 , 109 ]. In addition, glucose can induce cytokines in the kidney.…”