Regulation of glucose transporters - Implications for insulin resistance states

Altered glucose homeostasis in the different diabetic states often results from a combination of insulin deficiency (absolute or relative), and impair ed hormone action. The latter involves alterations in the expression and/or function of glucose transporters in insulin responsive peripheral tissues - skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. Since whole body glucose utilization depends mainly on controlled changes in glucose transport in these tissues, this review focuses on the role of glucose transporters in the regulation of insulin-stimulated glucose transport activity. The molecular mechanisms by which several inducers of insulin resistance inhibit insulin action on g lucose uptake are also discussed. Better understanding of the complex regul ation of glucose transport and transporters will hopefully shed light on po tential sites for new pharmaceutical interventions. Several excellent revie ws have been published in the past 2 years detailing various aspects which are discussed only briefly in this review. They are mentioned in the text t o allow further reading.