Epigenetic regulation of glucose transporter 4 by estrogen receptor β.

ABSTRACT: Glucose transporter 4 (Glut4) is an important regulator of cellular glucose uptake in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. The estrogen receptors α and β (ERα and ERβ) have been shown to regulate Glut4. However, the regulatory mechanisms are unclear, and there are conflicting results about the effects of the two ER isoforms on Glut4 activity. In this study we investigated how the lack of either ER isoform affects Glut4 expression in differentiated mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Our results demonstrate that Glut4 transcription is markedly reduced in cells lacking ERβ, both basally and upon induction by liver X receptor. These changes in Glut4 expression could not be explained by the lack of ERβ as ligand-activated transcription factor. They were rather brought about by hypermethylation of one

SUBMITTER: Ruegg J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3231832 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature