Glucose transporter 4-deficient hearts develop maladaptive hypertrophy in response to physiological or pathological stresses

In conclusion, GLUT4 is required for the maintenance of cardiac structure and function in response to physiological or pathological processes that increase energy demands, in part through secondary changes in mitochondrial metabolism and cellular stress survival pathways such as Akt.
NEW & NOTEWORTHY Glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) is required for myocardial adaptations to exercise, and its absence accelerates heart dysfunction after pressure overload. The requirement for GLUT4 may extend beyond glucose uptake to include defects in mitochondrial metabolism and survival signaling pathways that develop in its absence. Therefore, GLUT4 is critical for responses to hemodynamic stresses.

Source: AJP: Heart and Circulatory Physiology - December 1, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Wende, A. R., Kim, J., Holland, W. L., Wayment, B. E., ONeill, B. T., Tuinei, J., Brahma, M. K., Pepin, M. E., McCrory, M. A., Luptak, I., Halade, G. V., Litwin, S. E., Abel, E. D. Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research