Exercise in transgenic mice overexpressing GLUT4 glucose transporters: effects on substrate metabolism and glycogen regulation

Effects of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training on glycaemic control and skeletal muscle mitochondrial function in db/db mice

Physical activity is known as an effective strategy for prevention and treatment of Type 2 Diabetes. The aim of this work was to compare the effects of a traditional Moderate Intensity Continuous Training (MICT) with a High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on glucose metabolism and mitochondrial function in diabetic mice. Diabetic db/db male mice (N = 25) aged 6 weeks were subdivided into MICT, HIIT or control (CON) group. Animals in the training groups ran on a treadmill 5 days/week during 10 weeks. MICT group ran for 80 min (0° slope) at 50-60% of maximal speed (Vmax) reached during an incremental test. HIIT group ran thirteen times 4 minutes (20° slope) at 85-90% of Vmax separated by 2-min-rest periods. HIIT lowered fasting glycaemia and HbA1c compared with CON group (p < 0.05). In all mitochondrial function markers assessed, no differences were noted between the three groups except for total amount of electron transport chain proteins, slightly increased in the HIIT group vs CON. Western blot analysis revealed a significant increase of muscle Glut4 content (about 2 fold) and higher insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation ratios in HIIT group. HIIT seems to improve glucose metabolism more efficiently than MICT in diabetic mice by mechanisms independent of mitochondrial adaptations.

Migraine: A disorder of metabolism?

The treatment and prevention of migraine within the last decade has become largely pharmacological. While there is little doubt that the advent of drugs (e.g. triptans) has helped many migraine sufferers to lead a normal life, there is still little knowledge with respect to the factors responsible for precipitating a migraine attack. Evidence from biochemical and behavioural studies from a number of disciplines is integrated to put forward the proposal that migraine is part of a cascade of events, which together act to protect the organism when confronted by a metabolic challenge.

A proteolytic pathway that controls glucose uptake in fat and muscle

Insulin regulates glucose uptake by controlling the subcellular location of GLUT4 glucose transporters. GLUT4 is sequestered within fat and muscle cells during low-insulin states, and is translocated to the cell surface upon insulin stimulation. The TUG protein is a functional tether that sequesters GLUT4 at the Golgi matrix. To stimulate glucose uptake, insulin triggers TUG endoproteolytic cleavage. Cleavage accounts for a large proportion of the acute effect of insulin to mobilize GLUT4 to the cell surface. During ongoing insulin exposure, endocytosed GLUT4 recycles to the plasma membrane directly from endosomes, and bypasses a TUG-regulated trafficking step. Insulin acts through the TC10α GTPase and its effector protein, PIST, to stimulate TUG cleavage. This action is coordinated with insulin signals through AS160/Tbc1D4 and Tbc1D1 to modulate Rab GTPases, and with other signals to direct overall GLUT4 targeting. Data support the idea that the N-terminal TUG cleavage product, TUGUL, functions as a novel ubiquitin-like protein modifier to facilitate GLUT4 movement to the cell surface. The C-terminal TUG cleavage product is extracted from the Golgi matrix, which vacates an "anchoring" site to permit subsequent cycles of GLUT4 retention and release. Together, GLUT4 vesicle translocation and TUG cleavage may coordinate glucose uptake with physiologic effects of other proteins present in the GLUT4-containing vesicles, and with potential additional effects of the TUG C-terminal product. Understanding this TUG pathway for GLUT4 retention and release will shed light on the regulation of glucose uptake and the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes.

Enhanced fasting glucose turnover in mice with disrupted action of TUG protein in skeletal muscle

Insulin stimulates glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in part by causing endoproteolytic cleavage of TUG (tether containing a ubiquitin regulatory X (UBX) domain for glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4)). Cleavage liberates intracellularly sequestered GLUT4 glucose transporters for translocation to the cell surface. To test the role of this regulation in muscle, we used mice with muscle-specific transgenic expression of a truncated TUG fragment, UBX-Cter. This fragment causes GLUT4 translocation in unstimulated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We predicted that transgenic mice would have GLUT4 translocation in muscle during fasting. UBX-Cter expression caused depletion of PIST (PDZ domain protein interacting specifically with TC10), which transmits an insulin signal to TUG. Whereas insulin stimulated TUG proteolysis in control muscles, proteolysis was constitutive in transgenic muscles. Fasting transgenic mice had decreased plasma glucose and insulin concentrations compared with controls. Whole-body glucose turnover was increased during fasting but not during hyperinsulinemic clamp studies. In muscles with the greatest UBX-Cter expression, 2-deoxyglucose uptake during fasting was similar to that in control muscles during hyperinsulinemic clamp studies. Fasting transgenic mice had increased muscle glycogen, and GLUT4 targeting to T-tubule fractions was increased 5.7-fold. Whole-body oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), and energy expenditure were increased by 12-13%. After 3 weeks on a high fat diet, the decreased fasting plasma glucose in transgenic mice compared with controls was more marked, and increased glucose turnover was not observed; the transgenic mice continued to have an increased metabolic rate. We conclude that insulin stimulates TUG proteolysis to translocate GLUT4 in muscle, that this pathway impacts systemic glucose homeostasis and energy metabolism, and that the effects of activating this pathway are maintained during high fat diet-induced insulin resistance in mice.

Expression of uncoupling protein 1 in skeletal muscle decreases muscle energy efficiency and affects thermoregulation and substrate oxidation

Skeletal muscle uncoupling by ectopic expression of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) has been shown to result in a lean phenotype in mice characterized by increased energy expenditure (EE), resistance to diet-induced obesity, and improved glucose tolerance. Here, we investigated in detail the effect of ectopic UCP1 expression in skeletal muscle on thermoregulation and energy homeostasis in HSA-mUCP1 transgenic mice. Thermoneutrality was determined to be ∼30°C for both wild-type (WT) and transgenic mice. EE, body temperature (Tb), activity, and respiratory quotient (RQ) were then measured over 24 h at ambient temperatures (Ta) of 30, 22, and 5°C. HSA-mUCP1 transgenic mice showed increased activity-related EE and heat loss but similar basal metabolic rate compared with WT. Tbat resting periods was progressively decreased with declining Tain HSA-mUCP1 transgenic mice but not in WT. Compared with WT littermates, the transgenic HSA-mUCP1 mice displayed increased RQ levels during night time, indicative of increased overall glucose oxidation, and failed to decrease their RQ levels with declining Ta. Thus increased EE caused by skeletal muscle uncoupling is clearly due to a decreased muscle energy efficiency during activity combined with increased glucose oxidation and a compromised thermoregulation associated with increased overall heat loss. At Tas below thermoneutrality, this puts increasing energy demands on the animals, whereas at thermoneutrality most differences in energy metabolism are not apparent any more.

Control of muscle glucose uptake: test of the rate-limiting step paradigm in conscious, unrestrained mice

The aim of this study was to test whether in fact glucose transport is rate-limiting in control of muscle glucose uptake (MGU) under physiological hyperinsulinaemic conditions in the conscious, unrestrained mouse. C57Bl/6J mice overexpressing GLUT4 (GLUT4(Tg)), hexokinase II (HK(Tg)), or both (GLUT4(Tg) + HK(Tg)), were compared to wild-type (WT) littermates. Catheters were implanted into a carotid artery and jugular vein for sampling and infusions at 4 month of age. After a 5-day recovery period, conscious mice underwent one of two protocols (n = 8-14/group) after a 5-h fast. Saline or insulin (4 mU kg(-1) min(-1)) was infused for 120 min. All mice received a bolus of 2-deoxy[(3)H]glucose (2-(3)HDG) at 95 min. Glucose was clamped at approximately 165 mg dl(-1) during insulin infusion and insulin levels reached approximately 80 microU ml(-1). The rate of disappearance of 2-(3)HDG from the blood provided an index of whole body glucose clearance. Gastrocnemius, superficial vastus lateralis and soleus muscles were excised at 120 min to determine 2-(3)HDG-6-phosphate levels and calculate an index of MGU (R(g)). Results show that whole body and tissue-specific indices of glucose utilization were: (1) augmented by GLUT4 overexpression, but not HKII overexpression, in the basal state; (2) enhanced by HKII overexpression in the presence of physiological hyperinsulinaemia; and (3) largely unaffected by GLUT4 overexpression during insulin clamps whether alone or combined with HKII overexpression. Therefore, while glucose transport is the primary barrier to MGU under basal conditions, glucose phosphorylation becomes a more important barrier during physiological hyperinsulinaemia in all muscles. The control of MGU is distributed rather than confined to a single rate-limiting step such as glucose transport as glucose transport and phosphorylation can both become barriers to skeletal muscle glucose influx.

Distributed control of glucose uptake by working muscles of conscious mice: roles of transport and phosphorylation

Muscle glucose uptake (MGU) is determined by glucose delivery, transport, and phosphorylation. C57Bl/6J mice overexpressing GLUT4, hexokinase II (HK II), or both were used to determine the barriers to MGU. A carotid artery and jugular vein were catheterized for arterial blood sampling and venous infusions. Experiments were conducted in conscious mice approximately 7 days after surgery. 2-Deoxy-[3H]glucose was administered during rest or treadmill exercise to calculate glucose concentration-dependent (Rg) and -independent (Kg) indexes of MGU. Compared with wild-type controls, GLUT4-overexpressing mice had lowered fasting glycemia (165 +/- 6 vs. 115 +/- 6 mg/dl) and increased Rg by 230 and 166% in the gastrocnemius and superficial vastus lateralis (SVL) muscles under sedentary conditions. GLUT4 overexpression was not able to augment exercise-stimulated Rg or Kg. Whereas HK II overexpression had no effect on fasting glycemia (170 +/- 6 mg/dl) or sedentary Rg, it increased exercise-stimulated Rg by 82, 60, and 169% in soleus, gastrocnemius, and SVL muscles, respectively. Combined GLUT4 and HK II overexpression lowered fasting glycemia (106 +/- 6 mg/dl), increased nonesterified fatty acids, and increased sedentary Rg. Combined GLUT4 and HK II overexpression did not enhance exercise-stimulated Rg compared with HK II-overexpressing mice because of the reduced glucose concentration. GLUT4 combined with HK II overexpression resulted in a marked increase in exercise-stimulated Kg. In conclusion, control of MGU shifts from membrane transport at rest to phosphorylation during exercise. Glucose transport is not normally a significant barrier during exercise. However, when the phosphorylation barrier is lowered by HK II overexpression, glucose transport becomes a key site of control for regulating MGU during exercise.

Effect of moderate exercise immediately followed by induced hyperglycemia on gene expression and content of the glucose transporter-4 protein in skeletal muscles of horses

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of a single bout of exercise and increased substrate availability after exercise on gene expression and content of the glucose transporter-4 (GLUT-4) protein in equine skeletal muscle.

ANIMALS

6 healthy adult Thoroughbreds.

PROCEDURES

The study was designed in a balanced, randomized, 3-way crossover fashion. During 2 trials, horses were exercised at 45% of their maximal rate of oxygen consumption for 60 minutes after which 1 group received water (10 mL/kg), and the other group received glucose (2 g/kg, 20% solution) by nasogastric intubation. During 1 trial, horses stood on the treadmill (sham exercise) and then received water (10 mL/kg) by nasogastric intubation. Muscle glycogen concentration and muscle GLUT-4 protein and mRNA content were determined before exercise and at 5 minutes and 4, 8, and 24 hours after exercise.

RESULTS

Although exercise resulted in a 30% reduction in muscle glycogen concentration, no significant difference was detected in muscle GLUT-4 protein or mRNA content before and after exercise. Glycogen replenishment was similar in both exercised groups and was not complete at 24 hours after exercise. Horses that received glucose had significantly higher plasma glucose and insulin concentrations for 3 hours after exercise, but no effect of hyperglycemia was detected on muscle GLUT-4 protein or mRNA content.

CONCLUSION

Under the conditions of this study, neither exercise nor the combination of exercise followed by hyperglycemia induced translation or transcription of the GLUT-4 protein in horses.

Effect of acid maltase deficiency on the endosomal/lysosomal system and glucose transporter 4

Membrane bound glycogen storage in muscle is characteristic for the lysosomal storage disorder acid maltase (acid alpha-glucosidase) deficiency while in phosphofructokinase and phosphorylase deficiency, glycogen is stored free in the cytoplasm. Using immunohistochemistry, we examined whether acid maltase deficiency had an effect on early endosomes, recycling endosomes and trans-Golgi network, vesicle systems linked to lysosomes. Vacuolated glycogen containing fibres stained intensely for the lysosomal marker lysosomal-membrane-protein-1 within fibres and at the sarcolemma. There was a similar increase in immunoreactivity for markers of early endosomes (rab5), recycling endosomes (transferrin receptor) and the trans-Golgi network. In acid maltase deficiency, but not in normal muscle or other glycogenoses, staining for the insulin responsive glucose transporter 4 was markedly increased and partially co-localised with all vesicular markers. Our results suggest an effect of acid maltase deficiency extending to various vesicle systems linked to lysosomes. The enzyme defect may also affect the homoeostasis of receptors cycling through these organelles such as glucose transporter 4.

Skeletal muscle adaptations in response to voluntary wheel running in myosin heavy chain null mice

10.1152/ japplphysiol.00832.2001.-To examine the effects of gene inactivation on the plasticity of skeletal muscle, mice null for a specific myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform were subjected to a voluntary wheel-running paradigm. Despite reduced running performance compared with nontransgenic C57BL/6 mice (NTG), both MHC IIb and MHC IId/x null animals exhibited increased muscle fiber size and muscle oxidative capacity with wheel running. In the MHC IIb null animals, there was no significant change in the percentage of muscle fibers expressing a particular MHC isoform with voluntary wheel running at any time point. In MHC IId/x null mice, wheel running produced a significant increase in the percentage of fibers expressing MHC IIa and MHC I and a significant decrease in the percentage of fibers expressing MHC IIb. Muscle pathology was not affected by wheel running for either MHC null strain. In summary, despite their phenotypes, MHC null mice do engage in voluntary wheel running. Although this wheel-running activity is lessened compared with NTG, there is evidence of distinct patterns of muscle adaptation in both null strains.

GLUT4: a key player regulating glucose homeostasis? Insights from transgenic and knockout mice (review)

Studies in which GLUT4 has been overexpressed in transgenic mice provide definitive evidence that glucose transport is rate limiting for muscle glucose disposal. Transgenic overexpression of GLUT4 selectively in skeletal muscle results in increased whole body glucose uptake and improves glucose homeostasis. These studies strengthen the hypothesis that the level of muscle GLUT4 affects the rate of whole body glucose disposal, and underscore the importance of GLUT4 in skeletal muscle for maintaining whole body glucose homeostasis. Studies in which GLUT4 has been ablated or 'knocked-out' provide proof that GLUT4 is the primary effector for mediating glucose transport in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. Genetic ablation of GLUT4 results in impaired insulin tolerance and defects in glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. Because impaired muscle glucose transport leads to reduced whole body glucose uptake and hyperglycaemia, understanding the molecular regulation of glucose transport in skeletal muscle is important to develop effective strategies to prevent or reduce the incidence of Type II diabetes mellitus. In patients with Type II diabetes mellitus, reduced glucose transport in skeletal muscle is a major factor responsible for reduced whole body glucose uptake. Overexpression of GLUT4 in skeletal muscle improves glucose homeostasis in animal models of diabetes mellitus and protects against the development of diabetes mellitus. Thus, GLUT4 is an attractive target for pharmacological intervention strategies to control glucose homeostasis. This review will focus on the current understanding of the role of GLUT4 in regulating cellular glucose uptake and whole body glucose homeostasis.

Glucose metabolism in perfused mouse hearts overexpressing human GLUT-4 glucose transporter

Glucose and fatty acid metabolism was assessed in isolated working hearts from control C57BL/KsJ-m+/+db mice and transgenic mice overexpressing the human GLUT-4 glucose transporter (db/+-hGLUT-4). Heart rate, coronary flow, cardiac output, and cardiac power did not differ between control hearts and hearts overexpressing GLUT-4. Hearts overexpressing GLUT-4 had significantly higher rates of glucose uptake and glycolysis and higher levels of glycogen after perfusion than control hearts, but rates of glucose and palmitate oxidation were not different. Insulin (1 mU/ml) significantly increased glycogen levels in both groups. Insulin increased glycolysis in control hearts but not in GLUT-4 hearts, whereas glucose oxidation was increased by insulin in both groups. Therefore, GLUT-4 overexpression increases glycolysis, but not glucose oxidation, in the heart. Although control hearts responded to insulin with increased rates of glycolysis, the enhanced entry of glucose in the GLUT-4 hearts was already sufficient to maximally activate glycolysis under basal conditions such that insulin could not further stimulate the glycolytic rate.

Overexpression of GLUT4 in mice causes up-regulation of UCP3 mRNA in skeletal muscle

Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) is expressed in skeletal muscles. We have hypothesized that increased glucose flux in skeletal muscles may lead to increased UCP3 expression. Male transgenic mice harboring insulin-responsive glucose transporter (GLUT4) minigenes with differing lengths of 5'-flanking sequence (-3237, -2000, -1000 and -442 bp) express different levels of GLUT4 protein in various skeletal muscles. Expression of the GLUT4 transgenes caused an increase in UCP3 mRNA that paralleled the increase of GLUT4 protein in gastrocnemius muscle. The effects of increased intracellular GLUT4 level on the expression of UCP1, UCP2 and UCP3 were compared in several tissues of male 4 month-old mice harboring the -1000 GLUT4 minigene transgene. In the -1000 GLUT4 transgenic mice, expression of GLUT4 mRNA and protein in skeletal muscles, brown adipose tissue (BAT), and white adipose tissue (WAT) was increased by 1.4 to 4.0-fold. Compared with non-transgenic littermates, the -1000 GLUT4 mice exhibited about 4- and 1.8-fold increases of UCP3 mRNA in skeletal muscle and WAT, respectively, and a 38% decrease of UCP1 mRNA in BAT. The transgenic mice had a 16% increase in oxygen consumption and a 14% decrease in blood glucose and a 68% increase in blood lactate, but no change in FFA or beta-OHB levels. T3 and leptin concentrations were decreased in transgenic mice. Expression of UCP1 in BAT of the -442 GLUT4 mice, which did not overexpress GLUT4 in this tissue, was not altered. These findings indicate that overexpression of GLUT4 up-regulates UCP3 expression in skeletal muscle and down-regulates UCP1 expression in BAT, possibly by increasing the rate of glucose uptake into these tissues.

Restoration of hypoxia-stimulated glucose uptake in GLUT4-deficient muscles by muscle-specific GLUT4 transgenic complementation

To investigate whether GLUT4 is required for exercise/hypoxia-induced glucose uptake, we assessed glucose uptake under hypoxia and normoxia in extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus muscles from GLUT4-deficient mice. In EDL and soleus from wild type control mice, hypoxia increased 2-deoxyglucose uptake 2-3-fold. Conversely, hypoxia did not alter 2-deoxyglucose uptake in either EDL or soleus from either male or female GLUT4-null mice. Next we introduced the fast-twitch skeletal muscle-specific MLC-GLUT4 transgene into GLUT4-null mice to determine whether changes in the metabolic milieu accounted for the lack of hypoxia-mediated glucose transport. Transgenic complementation of GLUT4 in EDL was sufficient to restore hypoxia-mediated glucose uptake. Soleus muscles from MLC-GLUT4-null mice were transgene-negative, and hypoxia-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake was not restored. Although ablation of GLUT4 in EDL did not affect normoxic glycogen levels, restoration of GLUT4 to EDL led to an increase in glycogen under hypoxic conditions. Male GLUT4-null soleus displayed reduced normoxic glycogen stores, but female null soleus contained significantly more glycogen under normoxia and hypoxia. Reduced normoxic levels of ATP and phosphocreatine were measured in male GLUT4-null soleus but not in EDL. However, transgenic complementation of GLUT4 prevented the decrease in hypoxic ATP and phosphocreatine levels noted in male GLUT4-null and control EDL. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that GLUT4 plays an essential role in the regulation of muscle glucose uptake in response to hypoxia. Because hypoxia is a useful model for exercise, our results suggest that stimulation of glucose transport in response to exercise in skeletal muscle is totally dependent upon GLUT4. Furthermore, the compensatory glucose transport system that exists in GLUT4-null soleus muscle is not sensitive to hypoxia/muscle contraction.