Desperately seeking sugar: glial cells as hypoglycemia sensors.
A life-saving response to hypoglycemia requires rapid sensing of decreases in glycemia and consequent brisk glucagon secretion. Preceding studies have shown that mice lacking glucose transporter type 2 (GLUT2) lose this response. In this issue of the JCI, Marty et al. report that glucose sensing and consequent pancreatic glucagon secretion are restored by re-expression of GLUT2 in glial but not neuronal cells. A new, glucose-sensing role is ascribed to GLUT2-expressing glial cells.
Klip
Amira
A
Cell Biology Programme, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. amira@sickkids.ca
Hawkins
Meredith
M
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005934:Glucagon / Q000378:metabolism; D050416:Glucagon-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D051273:Glucose Transporter Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000378:metabolism; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008954:Models, Biological; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism
D001786:Blood Glucose; D051273:Glucose Transporter Type 2; D007328:Insulin; D005934:Glucagon; D005947:Glucose