L-cysteine increases glucose uptake in mouse soleus muscle and SH-SY5Y cells.
Previous investigation demonstrated the potential of L-cysteine (L-Cys) at high concentrations to cause hypoglycemia in mice totally deprived of insulin. For further elucidation of the glucose-lowering mechanism, glucose uptake and quantity of glucose transporters (GLUTs 3 and 4) in mouse soleus muscle and C2C12 muscle cells, as well as in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, were investigated. A marked enhancement of glucose uptake was demonstrated, peaking at 5.0 mM L-Cys in soleus muscle (P < 0.05) and SH-SY5Y cells (P < 0.001), respectively. In contrast, glucose uptake was not affected in the C2C12 muscle cells. Kinetic analysis of the SH-SY5Y glucose uptake showed a 2.5-fold increase in maximum transport velocity compared with controls (P < 0.001). In addition, both GLUT3 and GLUT4 levels were increased following exposure to L-Cys. Our findings point to a possible hypoglycemic effect of L-Cys.
Laboratory for Anesthesia, Pain and Neural Research, The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
Vered
V
Gazit
Ron
R
Ben-Abraham
Oded
O
Vofsi
Yeshayahu
Y
Katz
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003545:Cysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D051274:Glucose Transporter Type 3; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000378:metabolism; D010078:Oxazines; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014966:Xanthenes
D004396:Coloring Agents; D051274:Glucose Transporter Type 3; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010078:Oxazines; C495687:SLC2A3 protein, human; C495692:SLC2A4 protein, human; C495689:Slc2a3 protein, mouse; C495693:Slc2a4 protein, mouse; D014966:Xanthenes; C005843:resazurin; D005947:Glucose; D003545:Cysteine