DECREASED EXPRESSION OF INSULIN-SENSITIVE GLUCOSE-TRANSPORTER MESSENGER-RNA (GLUT-4) IN ADIPOSE-TISSUE OF NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETIC AND OBESE PATIENTS - EVALUATION BY A SIMPLIFIED QUANTITATIVE PCR ASSAY

Impaired cellular uptake and utilization of glucose is the hallmark of non-insulin-dependent-diabetes (NIDDM). We have developed a quantitat ive assay to probe the expression of glucose-transporter genes in tiss ues derived from patients with NIDDM. Using the polymerase chain react ion (PCR), we assessed levels of expression of the insulin responsive glucose transporter GLUT-4 in adipose tissue of patients with NIDDM an d in obese patients. We report that expression of GLUT-4 is reduced in NIDDM and in obesity associated with hyperinsulinemia and insulin res istance. These results suggest that reduction of GLUT-4 levels in the adipose cell plays an important role in the pathogenesis of insulin re sistance, an early feature of NIDDM.