title: Decreased expression of insulin-sensitive glucose transporter mRNA (GLUT-4) in adipose tissue of non-insulin-dependent diabetic and obese patients: evaluation by a simplified quantitative PCR assay.
abstract: Impaired cellular uptake and utilization of glucose is the hallmark of non-insulin-dependent-diabetes (NIDDM). We have developed a quantitative assay to probe the expression of glucose-transporter genes in tissues derived from patients with NIDDM. Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we assessed levels of expression of the insulin responsive glucose transporter GLUT-4 in adipose tissue of patients with NIDDM and in obese patients. We report that expression of GLUT-4 is reduced in NIDDM and in obesity associated with hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance. These results suggest that reduction of GLUT-4 levels in the adipose cell plays an important role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, an early feature of NIDDM.
authors.affiliation: Clinica di Endocrinologia, University of Ancona, Medical School.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giacchetti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Faloia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taccaliti
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Morosini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arnaldi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Soletti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mantero
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Accili
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Pirro
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C495692:SLC2A4 protein, human