SEARCHING FOR WAYS TO UP-REGULATE GLUT4 GLUCOSE-TRANSPORTER EXPRESSION IN MUSCLE

1. Skeletal muscle is a major glucose-utilizing tissue in the absorpti ve state and alterations in muscle insulin-stimulated glucose uptake l ead to derangements in whole body glucose disposal. 2. Furthermore, mu scle GLUT4 overexpression in transgenic animals ameliorates insulin re sistance associated with obesity or diabetes, which suggests that incr easing GLUT4 in muscle by pharmacological intervention may be an effec tive therapy in insulin-resistant states. 3. This highlights the impor tance of understanding the pathways that upregulate GLUT4 glucose tran sporter expression in muscle. 4. We review studies describing the regu lation of GLUT4 and the information currently available on the mechani sms that control GLUT4 expression in muscle. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.