GLUT4 Is Reduced in Slow Muscle Fibers of Type 2 Diabetic Patients

• DOI: 10.2337/diabetes.50.6.1324
• Publication Date: 2007-03-06T19:04:22Z
• Authors: Michael Gaster; Peter Staehr; Henning Beck-Nielsen; Henrick D. Schrøder; Aase Handberg
• Keywords: GLUT4

To gain further insight into the mechanisms underlying muscle insulin resistance, influence of obesity and type 2 diabetes on GLUT4 immunoreactivity in slow fast skeletal fibers was studied. Through a newly developed, very sensitive method using immunohistochemistry combined with morphometry, density found to be significantly higher compared biopsy specimens from lean obese subjects. In contrast, diabetic subjects, lower fibers. patients reduced by 9% weight-matched subjects 18% control group. The slow-fiber fraction 86% 75% Estimated contribution 77% 61% We propose that reduction slow-twitch fibers, expression may reduce insulin-sensitive pool thus contribute resistance.