Glucose Uptake and Triacylglycerol Synthesis Are Increased in Barth Syndrome Lymphoblasts

We examined the reasons for this in BTHS lymphoblasts. BTHS lymphoblasts exhibited a 60% increase (p <  0.004) in 2-[1,2-3H(N)]deoxy-d-glucose uptake, a 40% increase (p <  0.01) in glucose transporter-3 protein expression, an increase in phosphorylated-adenosine monophosphate kinase (AMPK) and a 58% increase (p <  0.001) in the phosphorylated-AMPK/AMPK ratio compared to controls. In addition, BTHS lymphoblasts exhibited a 90% (p <  0.001) increase ind-[U-14C]glucose incorporated into 1,2,3-triacyl-sn-glycerol (TAG) and a 29% increase (p <  0.025) in 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol acyltransferase-2 activity compared to controls. Thus, BTHS lymphoblasts exhibit increased glucose transport and increased glucose utilization for TAG synthesis. These results may, in part, explain why BTHS patients exhibit an increase in whole-body glucose disposal rates, may be predisposed to hypoglycemia and exhibit a higher fat mass percentage.
Source: Lipids - Category: Lipidology Source Type: research