Inhibition of glucose uptake and suppression of glucose transporter 1 mRNAexpression in L929 cells by tumour necrosis factor-alpha

Recombinant human tumour necrosis factor-alpha (rhTNF-alpha) arrested the g rowth and suppressed glucose uptake of mouse fibrosarcoma L929 cells in vit ro. When the cells were treated with rhTNF-alpha for 24 hours, the mRNA lev el of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT 1), which is the only GLUT found to be pr esent in L929 cells in our study, was suppressed in a dose-dependent manner . Since the growth of tumour cells depends mainly on glucose catabolism, ou r findings may indicate that rhTNF-alpha inhibits L929 cells growth by lowe ring the glucose transport through suppression of GLUT 1 mRNA expression in the cells. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.