title: Muscle GLUT4 in cirrhosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The insulin-dependent glucose transporter GLUT4 mediates 50-80% of whole body glucose uptake, but its relation to the frequent glucose intolerance in patients with liver cirrhosis is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients and seven healthy controls underwent a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test and later a muscle biopsy. Levels of GLUT4 total protein and mRNA content were determined in muscle biopsies by polyclonal antibody labelling and RT-PCR, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GLUT4 protein content in the cirrhosis group was not different from that of the controls, but at variance with the control subjects it correlated closely with measures of glucose tolerance (R(2)=0.45; p=0.003). GLUT4 mRNA of the patients with cirrhosis was reduced to 56% of control value (95% ci: 27-86%; p=0.015) and was inversely related to the level of basal hyper-insulinemia (R(2)=0.39; p=0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In cirrhosis GLUT4 protein content was quantitatively intact, while limiting glucose tolerance. This indicates loss of redundancy of the major glucose transport system, possibly related to the markedly decreased expression of its gene. Hyper-insulinemia may be a primary event. Our findings implicate the muscular GLUT4 system in the glucose intolerance of liver cirrhosis by a mechanism different from that in diabetes.
authors: Department of Medicine V (Hepatology and Gastroenterology), Aarhus University Hospital, 44 Noerrebrogade, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. phf@svf.au.dk
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Holland-Fischer
authors: Per Heden
authors: PH
authors: Andersen
authors: Sten
authors: S
authors: Lund
authors: Steen Bønnelykke
authors: SB
authors: Pedersen
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Vinter-Jensen
authors: Michael F
authors: MF
authors: Nielsen
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Kaal
authors: Rolf
authors: R
authors: Dall
authors: Ole
authors: O
authors: Schmitz
authors: Hendrik
authors: H
authors: Vilstrup
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000209:etiology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D012333:RNA, Messenger