TY - JOUR
T1 - Unexpected expression of glucose transporter 4 in villous stromal cells of human placenta
AU - Xing, A. Y.
AU - Challier, J. C.
AU - Lepercq, J.
AU - Caüzac, M.
AU - Charron, M. J.
AU - Girard, J.
AU - Hauguel-de Mouzon, S.
PY - 1998
Y1 - 1998
N2 - Glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) protein expression was characterized in human and rodent term placentas. A 50-kDa protein was detected, by immunoblotting, in term human placenta at levels averaging 25% of those found in white adipose tissue. It was also present, albeit at lower levels, in mouse and rat placentas. The specificity of the 50-kDa signal was established by using skeletal muscle and placental tissues obtained from GLUT4-null mice as controls. Indirect immunohistochemistry, performed in human placentas, showed that intravillous stromal cells were conspicuously labeled by GLUT4 and revealed colocalization of GLUT4 transporters with insulin receptors. This study provides the first evidence that the insulinresponsive GLUT4 glucose transporter is present in human and rodent hemochorial placentas. Placental GLUT4 gene and protein levels were not modified in human pregnancy complicated by insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The significance of the high level of GLUT4 protein in human placenta remains to be elucidated, because, so far, this organ was not considered to be insulin-sensitive, with regard to glucose transport.
AB - Glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) protein expression was characterized in human and rodent term placentas. A 50-kDa protein was detected, by immunoblotting, in term human placenta at levels averaging 25% of those found in white adipose tissue. It was also present, albeit at lower levels, in mouse and rat placentas. The specificity of the 50-kDa signal was established by using skeletal muscle and placental tissues obtained from GLUT4-null mice as controls. Indirect immunohistochemistry, performed in human placentas, showed that intravillous stromal cells were conspicuously labeled by GLUT4 and revealed colocalization of GLUT4 transporters with insulin receptors. This study provides the first evidence that the insulinresponsive GLUT4 glucose transporter is present in human and rodent hemochorial placentas. Placental GLUT4 gene and protein levels were not modified in human pregnancy complicated by insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The significance of the high level of GLUT4 protein in human placenta remains to be elucidated, because, so far, this organ was not considered to be insulin-sensitive, with regard to glucose transport.
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U2 - 10.1210/jc.83.11.4097
DO - 10.1210/jc.83.11.4097
M3 - Article
C2 - 9814498
AN - SCOPUS:0031733205
SN - 0021-972X
VL - 83
SP - 4097
EP - 4101
JO - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
JF - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
IS - 11
ER -