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B B Kahn

Publications and source records attributed to B B Kahn.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Distribution of GLUT3 glucose transporter protein in human tissues.

To investigate the tissue distribution of the GLUT3 glucose transporter isoform in human tissue we produced affinity purified antibodies to the COOH terminus of the human GLUT3. Both antibodies recognize a specific GLUT3 band in oocytes injected with GLUT3 mRNA but not in those injected with H2O or GLUT1, 2, 4, 5 mRNA. This immunoreactive band in GLUT3 injected oocytes is photolabelled by cytochalasin-B in the presence of L- but not D-glucose indicating that it is a glucose transporter. A high cross reactivity between the human GLUT3 antibodies and a 43 kDa cytoskeletal actin band was identified in all oocyte lysates and many human tissues. However, the specific GLUT3 band could be distinguished from the actin band by carbonate treatment which preferentially solubilized the actin band. Using these antibodies we show that GLUT3 is present as a 45-48 kDa protein in human brain with lower levels detectable in heart, placenta, liver and a barely detectable level in kidney. No GLUT3 was detected in membranes from any of 3 skeletal muscle groups investigated. We conclude that a major role of GLUT3 in humans is as the brain neuronal glucose transporter.

Affinity Labels↗
PubMed1992

Alterations in glucose transporter expression and function in diabetes: mechanisms for insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is a major pathologic feature of human obesity and diabetes. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms underlying this insulin resistance has been advanced by the recent cloning of the genes encoding a family of facilitated diffusion glucose transporters which are expressed in characteristic patterns in mammalian tissues. Two of these transporters, GLUT1 and GLUT4, are present in muscle and adipose cells, tissues in which glucose transport is markedly stimulated by insulin. To understand the mechanisms underlying in vivo insulin resistance, regulation of these transporters is being investigated. Studies reveal divergent changes in the expression of GLUT1 and GLUT4 in a single cell type as well as tissue specific regulation. Importantly, alterations in glucose transport in rodent models of diabetes and in human obesity and diabetes cannot be entirely explained by changes in glucose transporter expression. This suggests that defects in glucose transporter function such as impaired translocation, fusion with the plasma membrane, or activation probably contribute importantly to in vivo insulin resistance.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1992

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.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1992

Tissue-specific nutritional regulation of angiotensinogen in adipose tissue.

Recent studies have found that angiotensinogen is expressed in white and brown fat pads, and adipocytes have been implicated as a primary source of angiotensinogen in several other tissues. The functional significance of this unexpected expression is unknown. To address this, we studied angiotensinogen messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and angiotensinogen secretion in adipose tissue and isolated adipocytes comparing fasted and refed rodents and those with genetic obesity with normal controls. Control 2-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats, those fasted for 3 days, or those fasted for 2 days and refed for 6 days were killed, and adipocytes were isolated from epididymal fat pads using collagenase digestion. Angiotensinogen mRNA was reduced to 14.6 +/- 2.3% of control levels under fasted conditions and increased to 228 +/- 53% of control levels after refeeding. Angiotensinogen release from adipocytes was reduced to 33% of control levels by fasting and increased to 183% by refeeding. These effects of fasting and refeeding on angiotensinogen regulation were tissue specific since liver angiotensinogen mRNA and serum angiotensinogen concentrations were unaffected. Systolic blood pressure, however, was modulated by fasting and refeeding in a manner parallel to adipocyte angiotensinogen expression. In related experiments, angiotensinogen secretion per epididymal fat pad of the ob/ob mouse model of obesity was increased an average of 3.4-fold compared with control. We conclude angiotensinogen expression in white adipocytes is regulated nutritionally in a tissue-specific manner. We propose that adipocyte angiotensinogen could play a previously unrecognized role in regulating adipose tissue blood supply and thereby fatty acid efflux from fat.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1992

Divergent regulation of the Glut 1 and Glut 4 glucose transporters in isolated adipocytes from Zucker rats.

We have studied the relationship between glucose uptake rate and Glut 1 and Glut 4 protein and mRNA levels per fat cell in lean (FA/FA) and obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats at 5, 10, and 20 wk of age, and after induction of acute diabetes with streptozotocin. 5 wk obese rats exhibit insulin hyperresponsive glucose uptake, whereas 20 wk obese rats show insulin resistant glucose uptake. The relative abundance of Glut 1 and Glut 4 mRNA and protein per equal amount of total RNA and total membrane protein, respectively, is lower in adipocytes from obese rats. However, at all ages the enlargement of fat cells from obese rats is accompanied by a severalfold increase in total RNA and total membrane protein per cell. Thus, on a cellular basis, mRNA and protein levels of Glut 4 increases in young obese rats and gradually declines as a function of age. Basal glucose uptake is increased severalfold in fat cells from obese rats, and in parallel Glut 1 expression per cell in obese rats is two- to threefold increased over lean rats at all ages. Acute diabetes in 20 wk obese rats causes a profound downregulation of glucose uptake and a concomitant reduction of both Glut 1 and Glut 4 protein levels. Thus, changes in Glut 4 expression are a major cause of alteration in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake of adipocytes during evolution of obesity and diabetes in Zucker rats.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1992

Expression of GLUT1 and GLUT4 glucose transporters in skeletal muscle of humans with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: regulatory effects of metabolic factors.

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is associated with insulin deficiency and insulin-resistant glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. To investigate the molecular mechanisms for this insulin resistance, we examined the expression of GLUT1 and GLUT4, glucose transporter genes in vastus lateralis muscle from 20 IDDM subjects and 10 nondiabetic controls. Both groups had a mean age of 34 yr and were nonobese. Fasting free plasma insulin levels were similar in control and IDDM subjects but hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose and free fatty acid levels were significantly higher in IDDM subjects. Euglycemic clamp studies over a range of insulin concentrations in these IDDM subjects previously showed both decreased insulin sensitivity and decreased maximally insulin stimulated glucose utilization. In this study, Northern blotting of muscle ribonucleic acid (RNA) revealed a single 3.0-3.5 kb transcript for both GLUT1 and GLUT4 with no change in messenger RNA (mRNA) size or abundance with IDDM. In IDDM subjects, GLUT1 mRNA levels correlated positively with HbA1c whereas GLUT4 mRNA levels correlated negatively with fasting plasma glucose but not with HbA1c. Neither mRNA correlated with fasting plasma insulin or free fatty acid levels or with daily insulin dose. Immunoblotting of total muscle membranes for GLUT4 showed a single band of mol mass of approximately 45 kilodaltons with no change in size or abundance with IDDM. There was no significant correlation between GLUT4 polypeptide levels and HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, insulin, or free fatty acids, daily insulin dose, duration of diabetes, or subject age but in IDDM subjects GLUT4 protein levels correlated negatively with body mass index. Thus, impaired expression of glucose transporters in muscle is not essential for the pathogenesis of insulin-resistant glucose uptake in IDDM. No direct regulatory role of chronic glycemic control or plasma insulin levels on GLUT4 expression is evident. In contrast, recent ambient glucose levels may affect levels of GLUT4 mRNA but not GLUT4 protein, suggesting important posttranscriptional regulation of this protein. Since glucose transport has been shown to be rate limiting for glucose utilization in muscle in IDDM, these results suggest impaired translocation or activation of glucose transporters in IDDM.

Actins↗
PubMed1992

Human small intestine facilitative fructose/glucose transporter (GLUT5) is also present in insulin-responsive tissues and brain. Investigation of biochemical characteristics and translocation.

A recent study by C.F. Burant et al. (13) demonstrates that GLUT5 is a high-affinity fructose transporter with a much lower capacity to transport glucose. To characterize the potential role of GLUT5 in fructose and glucose transport in insulin-sensitive tissues, we investigated the distribution and insulin-stimulated translocation of the GLUT5 protein in human tissues by immunoblotting with an antibody to the COOH-terminus of the human GLUT5 sequence. GLUT5 was detected in postnuclear membranes from the small intestine, kidney, heart, four different skeletal muscle groups, and the brain, and in plasma membranes from adipocytes. Cytochalasin-B photolabeled a 53,000-M(r) protein in small intestine membranes that was immunoprecipitated by the GLUT5 antibody; labeling was inhibited by D- but not L-glucose. N-glycanase treatment resulted in a band of 45,000 M(r) in all tissues. Plasma membranes were prepared from isolated adipocytes from 5 nonobese and 4 obese subjects. Incubation of adipocytes from either group with 7 nM insulin did not recruit GLUT5 to the plasma membrane, in spite of a 54% insulin-stimulated increase in GLUT4 in nonobese subjects. Thus, GLUT5 appears to be a constitutive sugar transporter that is expressed in many tissues. Further studies are needed to define its overall contribution to fructose and glucose transport in insulin-responsive tissues and brain.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1991

Normalization of blood glucose in diabetic rats with phlorizin treatment reverses insulin-resistant glucose transport in adipose cells without restoring glucose transporter gene expression.

Evidence is emerging for a direct role of glucose, independent of changes in insulin, in the regulation of cellular glucose transport and glucose utilization in vivo. In this study we investigate potential cellular and molecular mechanisms for this regulatory effect of glucose by determining how normalization of glycemia without insulin therapy in diabetic rats influences 3-O-methylglucose transport and the expression and translocation of two genetically distinct species of glucose transporters (GTs) in adipose cells. These results are compared with alterations in glucose disposal in vivo measured by euglycemic clamp. In rats rendered diabetic by 90% pancreatectomy, insulin-stimulated glucose transport in adipose cells is decreased 50% in parallel with reduced insulin-mediated glucose disposal in vivo. Levels of adipose/muscle GTs measured by immunoblotting are decreased in adipose cell subcellular membrane fractions, as are the corresponding mRNA levels assessed by Northern blotting of total adipose cell RNA. Normalization of blood glucose in diabetic rats with phlorizin, which impairs renal tubular glucose reabsorption and thus enhances glucose excretion, restores insulin-stimulated glucose transport in adipose cells and insulin-mediated glucose disposal in vivo. Importantly, levels of the adipose/muscle GT protein remain 43% reduced in the low-density microsomes in the basal state and 46% reduced in the plasma membranes in the insulin-stimulated state. Adipose/muscle GT mRNA levels remain approximately 50% depressed. Levels of the HepG2/brain GT protein and mRNA are unaltered by diabetes or phlorizin treatment. Thus, changes in ambient glucose independent of changes in ambient insulin can regulate the glucose transport response to insulin in isolated adipose cells and changes in responsiveness parallel alterations in glucose uptake in vivo. Since this effect can occur without alteration in the expression of the two species of glucose transporters present in adipose cells or in their translocation to the plasma membrane in response to insulin, it may result from changes in GT functional activity.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1991

Decreased in vivo glucose uptake but normal expression of GLUT1 and GLUT4 in skeletal muscle of diabetic rats.

This study was designed to determine whether altered glucose transporter expression is essential for the in vivo insulin-resistant glucose uptake characteristic of streptozocin-induced diabetes. Immunofluorescence in rat skeletal muscle colocalizes GLUT4 with dystrophin, both intrinsic to muscle fibers. In contrast, GLUT1 is extrinsic to muscle fibers, probably in perineurial sheath. Immunoblotting shows that levels of GLUT1 and GLUT4 protein per DNA in hindlimb muscle are unaltered from control levels at 7 d of diabetes but decrease to approximately 20% of control at 14 d of diabetes. This decrease is prevented by insulin treatment. In adipose cells of 7 d diabetic rats, GLUT4 levels are depressed. Thus, GLUT4 undergoes tissue-specific regulation in response to diabetes. GLUT4 and GLUT1 mRNA levels in muscle are decreased 62-70% at both 7 and 14 d of diabetes and are restored by insulin treatment. At 7 d of diabetes, when GLUT4 protein levels in muscle are unaltered, in vivo insulin-stimulated glucose uptake measured by euglycemic clamp is 54% of control. This reflects impairment in both glycogen synthesis and glycolysis and the substrate common to these two pathways, glucose-6-phosphate, is decreased approximately 30% in muscle of diabetic rats. These findings suggest a defect early in the pathway of glucose utilization, probably at the step of glucose transport. Because GLUT1 and GLUT4 levels are unaltered at 7 d of diabetes, reduced glucose uptake in muscle probably reflects impaired glucose transporter translocation or intrinsic activity. Later, at 14 d of diabetes, GLUT1 and GLUT4 protein levels are reduced, suggesting that sequential defects may contribute to the insulin-resistant glucose transport characteristic of diabetes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

High fat feeding causes insulin resistance and a marked decrease in the expression of glucose transporters (Glut 4) in fat cells of rats.

With the identification of two different glucose transporter species in adipose cells it is crucial to determine the role of these transporters in the alterations in glucose transport activity associated with different metabolic and nutritional states. In the present study we assess levels of expression of Glut 1 and Glut 4 transporters and basal and insulin-stimulated glucose transport activity in adipocytes from Sprague-Dawley rats fed standard chow (control), combined liquid diet and standard chow (overfed), high fat diet, or energy-restricted diet for 7 weeks. High fat feeding was associated with relative postprandial hypoglycemia (P less than 0.05) and hypoinsulinemia (P less than 0.05). Although the high fat fed animals had lower body weights (P less than 0.05) than control rats, their body compositions showed obesity, with 36% heavier epididymal fat pads (P less than 0.05) and a 47% increase in adipocyte volume (P less than 0.05). Fat feeding caused a 78% reduction in insulin-stimulated glucose transport per adipocyte (P less than 0.05). In parallel we found 92% and 94% reductions in Glut 4 protein and mRNA per adipocyte, respectively, (P less than 0.01) in fat-fed rats. Substantial reductions were also seen in Glut 1 protein and mRNA per fat cell in the same rats (62% and 76%, respectively; P less than 0.05). However, the changes in Glut 1 expression were of the same magnitude as changes in the cytoskeletal protein beta-actin, reflecting a decreased expression of several proteins in this nutritional state. Even though overfeeding and energy restriction brought about opposite changes in adiposity, no significant alterations were demonstrated in glucose transport rate or glucose transporter expression. The impaired insulin-stimulated glucose transport in adipose cells from high fat-fed rats occurs in the presence of a dramatic decrease in the expression of the major insulin-responsive glucose transporter (Glut 4). The reduced gene expression may be caused by chronic hypoinsulinemia and may contribute to the insulin resistance observed in this state.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1991

Expression of the low Km GLUT-1 glucose transporter is turned on in perivenous hepatocytes of insulin-deficient diabetic rats.

In normal fed rats the low Km glucose transporter GLUT-1 is expressed only in one row of hepatocytes immediately surrounding a terminal hepatic venule, while the high Km GLUT-2 is expressed in every hepatocyte. Previously, we showed that additional perivenous hepatocytes express GLUT-1 in fasting animals. In diabetes, as in starvation, the liver functions to release glucose into the circulation, but unlike starvation, circulating extracellular glucose is high in diabetes. By immunofluorescence and Western blotting we studied whether glucose or insulin is the primary extracellular signal for inducing GLUT-1 expression in hepatocytes. We observed that streptozocin-induced diabetes causes induction of GLUT-1 expression in the plasma membrane of hepatocytes within four cell rows of a terminal hepatic venule; GLUT-2 expression is unaltered. Chronic insulin treatment of diabetic rats reduces the number of rows of hepatocytes expressing GLUT-1 from approximately four to approximately two. In contrast, chronic insulin infusion into nondiabetic rats does not affect the number of hepatocytes expressing GLUT-1. Thus, both fasting and diabetes induce GLUT-1 expression in specific hepatocytes that normally do not express this gene. This induction correlates with low insulin levels in the blood, and not with circulating glucose levels.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Divergent molecular mechanisms for insulin-resistant glucose transport in muscle and adipose cells in vivo.

Glucose homeostasis depends on regulated changes in glucose transport in insulin-responsive tissues (e.g. muscle and adipose cells). This transport is mediated by at least two distinct glucose transporters: "adipose-muscle" and "erythrocyte-brain." To understand the molecular basis for in vivo insulin resistance we investigated the effects of fasting and refeeding on the expression of these two glucose transporters in adipose cells and skeletal muscle. In vivo insulin resistance seen with fasting and hyperresponsiveness seen with refeeding influence glucose transporter expression in a transporter-specific and tissue-specific manner. In adipose cells only the adipose-muscle glucose transporter mRNA and protein decrease dramatically with fasting and increase above control levels with refeeding, changes that parallel effects on insulin-stimulated glucose transport. In contrast, in muscle expression of both glucose transporters increase with fasting and return to control levels with refeeding, also in accordance with changes in glucose uptake in vitro. Although expression of the adipose-muscle glucose transporter predicts the physiological response at the tissue level, factors in the hormonal/metabolic milieu appear to override its increased expression in muscle resulting in insulin-resistant glucose uptake in this tissue in vivo.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1990

Effect of endurance training on glucose transport capacity and glucose transporter expression in rat skeletal muscle.

The effect of 10 wk endurance swim training on 3-O-methylglucose (3-MG) uptake (at 40 mM 3-MG) in skeletal muscle was studied in the perfused rat hindquarter. Training resulted in an increase of approximately 33% for maximum insulin-stimulated 3-MG transport in fast-twitch red fibers and an increase of approximately 33% for contraction-stimulated transport in slow-twitch red fibers compared with nonexercised sedentary muscle. A fully additive effect of insulin and contractions was observed both in trained and untrained muscle. Compared with transport in control rats subjected to an almost exhaustive single exercise session the day before experiment both maximum insulin- and contraction-stimulated transport rates were increased in all muscle types in trained rats. Accordingly, the increased glucose transport capacity in trained muscle was not due to a residual effect of the last training session. Half-times for reversal of contraction-induced glucose transport were similar in trained and untrained muscles. The concentrations of mRNA for GLUT-1 (the erythrocyte-brain-Hep G2 glucose transporter) and GLUT-4 (the adipocyte-muscle glucose transporter) were increased approximately twofold by training in fast-twitch red muscle fibers. In parallel to this, Western blot demonstrated a approximately 47% increase in GLUT-1 protein and a approximately 31% increase in GLUT-4 protein. This indicates that the increases in maximum velocity for 3-MG transport in trained muscle is due to an increased number of glucose transporters.

3-O-Methylglucose↗
PubMed1990

Differential regulation of two glucose transporters in rat liver by fasting and refeeding and by diabetes and insulin treatment.

Two species of glucose transporter (GT) are present in the liver: the erythroid/brain GT and the newly characterized liver GT. No information is available regarding the functional role of these two species or whether their expression is regulated concordantly in states in which hepatic glucose uptake or output are markedly altered. In this study, we analyzed the effect of fasting and refeeding and streptozocin-induced diabetes and subsequent insulin treatment on the expression of the erythroid/brain and liver GT polypeptides and their mRNAs in rat liver. The erythroid/brain GT mRNA in livers of control rats corresponded to 1-3% of the amount of liver GT mRNA. After a 4-day fast, its level increased approximately 3-fold and represented 8-10% of the liver GT mRNA, whereas the corresponding protein increased 4-fold. In livers from diabetic rats, levels of the erythroid/brain GT mRNA increased up to 2.4-fold and gradually returned to normal with chronic insulin treatment. Levels of the corresponding protein were minimally altered. Levels of immunoreactive liver GTs were not significantly changed by 2 days of fasting, 7 or 14 days of diabetes, or subsequent insulin treatment for 3, 5, or 7 days but increased up to 75% with refeeding for 3-48 h. Liver GT mRNA levels minimally decreased in diabetic or insulin-treated rats, decreased 45% after a 2-day fast, and increased up to 5-fold on refeeding for 24 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1990

Evidence against altered expression of GLUT1 or GLUT4 in skeletal muscle of patients with obesity or NIDDM.

Studies of experimental diabetes in rodents induced by the beta-cell toxin streptozocin have shown that the insulin-resistant glucose transport of peripheral tissues (muscle and adipose) in these animals can be ascribed in part to a pretranslational reduction of the major insulin-sensitive glucose transporter (GLUT4) in these tissues. Because a central feature of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is an imparied ability of insulin to enhance glucose disposal in skeletal muscle, we examined the hypothesis that reduced expression of GLUT4 is a characteristic finding in the skeletal muscle of subjects with NIDDM. Biopsies of skeletal muscles were obtained from 17 patients with NIDDM and 10 lean and 9 obese nondiabetic subjects. Among the diabetic subjects, 7 were newly diagnosed and untreated. Compared with age-matched and body-weight-matched healthy control subjects, there was no significant alteration in the level of GLUT4 mRNA demonstrated by Northern blot and slot blot or GLUT4 protein determined by immunoblotting muscle membranes. Neither GLUT4 mRNA nor protein concentration correlated with the degree of glycemic control, fasting plasma insulin or glucose, diabetes duration, body mass index, sex, or age. GLUT1 mRNA and protein levels were also not significantly different between diabetic and matched control subjects. Thus, unlike streptozocin-induced diabetes in rodents, there is no evidence that impaired expression of the major insulin-responsive glucose transporter is responsible for insulin-resistant glucose transport in the skeletal muscle of these lean and moderately obese NIDDM patients.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Regulation of glucose-transporter gene expression in vitro and in vivo.

Understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underlying the complex regulation of glucose homeostasis has been dramatically transformed recently by the realization that glucose transport in mammalian tissues is mediated by a family of structurally related but genetically distinct glucose-transporter proteins. The regulatory factors and intracellular signaling pathways that influence expression of the genes encoding these proteins are just being identified. Factors that regulate glucose-transporter gene expression in vitro include oncogenes, growth factors, insulin, oral hypoglycemic agents, vanadate, glucocorticoids, ambient glucose levels, and the state of cellular differentiation. In vivo, glucose-transporter gene expression in adipose cells, skeletal muscle, and liver is markedly affected by various altered nutritional and metabolic states. Recent studies have demonstrated that two glucose transporters expressed in the same tissue may be regulated differently in response to the same metabolic perturbation. Furthermore, transporter regulation appears to be tissue specific. These observations lay the groundwork for future studies aimed at unraveling the functional roles of the individual transporter species in different tissues, the molecular processes involved in regulating the expression of these genes, and the impact of dysregulated glucose-transporter gene expression in the pathogenesis of insulin-resistant states such as diabetes.

Animals↗