title: Effects of mercuric chloride on glucose transport in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
abstract: Mercury, as well as the other Group IIB metals, stimulates glucose transport in adipocytes. Here we characterize the action of mercury on adipocyte glucose transport and examine several potential mechanisms of action. Mercury exposure causes a modest (compared to insulin) 1.8-fold increase in glucose transport. This glucose transport corresponds with an increase in GLUT 1, but not GLUT 4 glucose transporters. Phosphorylation of p38 kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) were examined as possible mediators of mercury induced GLUT 1 levels. Phosphorylation of p38 kinase, but not JNK, increased with mercury exposure. Activation of p38 and an increase in glucose transport corresponding to an increase in GLUT 1 are indicative the induction of a stress response, which can contribute to the induction of insulin resistance in adipocytes. However, inhibition of p38 by the p38 inhibitor SB203580 did not prevent mercury-mediated glucose uptake. While the magnitude of the action of mercury is modest, its effects were sustained over many days of exposure and impacted subsequent insulin-mediated glucose transport. Pre-treatment with HgCl2 decreased insulin-mediated glucose transport 1.3-fold suggesting that exposure to mercury may contribute to pathologies associated with glucose homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA. dbarnes@standardprocess.com
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kircher
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; D007093:Imidazoles; D007328:Insulin; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; D011725:Pyridines; C495678:Slc2a1 protein, mouse; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093642:SB 203580