Characterization and Modulation of Glucose Uptake in a Human Blood-Brain Barrier Model

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays a key role in limiting and regulating glucose access to glial and neuronal cells. In this work glucose uptake on a human BBB cell model (the hCMEC/D3 cell line) was characterized. The influence of some hormones and diet components on glucose uptake was also studied. H-3-2-deoxy-d-glucose ([H-3]-DG) uptake for hCMEC/D3 cells was evaluated in the presence or absence of tested compounds. [H-3]-DG uptake was sodium- and energy-independent. [H-3]-DG uptake was regulated by Ca2+ and calmodulin but not by MAPK kinase pathways. PKC, PKA and protein tyrosine kinase also seem to be involved in glucose uptake modulation. Progesterone and estrone were found to decrease H-3-DG uptake. Catechin and epicatechin did not have any effect, but their methylated metabolites increased [H-3]-DG uptake. Quercetin and myricetin decreased [H-3]-DG uptake, and glucuronic acid-conjugated quercetin did not have any effect. These cells expressed GLUT1, GLUT3 and SGLT1 mRNA.