Brain energetics and glucose transport in metabolic diseases: role in neurodegeneration

ABSTRACT

Objectives

Neurons and glial cells are the main functional and structural elements of the brain, and the former depends on the latter for their nutritional, functional and structural organization, as well as for their energy maintenance.

Methods

Glucose is the main metabolic source that fulfills energetic demands, either by direct anaplerosis or through its conversion to metabolic intermediates. Development of some neurodegenerative diseases have been related with modifications in the expression and/or function of glial glucose transporters, which might cause physiological and/or pathological disturbances of brain metabolism. In the present contribution, we summarized the experimental findings that describe the exquisite adjustment in expression and function of glial glucose transporters from physiologic to pathologic metabolism, and its relevance to neurodegenerative diseases.

Results

A exhaustive literature review was done in order to gain insight into the role of brain energetics in neurodegenerative disease. This study made evident a critical involvement of glucose transporters and thus brain energetics in the development of neurodegenerative diseases.

Discussion

An exquisite adjustment in the expression and function of glial glucose transporters from physiologic to pathologic metabolism is a biochemical signature of neurodegenerative diseases.

KEYWORDS:

• Glia cells
• metabolic coupling
• glucose transporters
• neuropathologies
• brain energetic

Acknowledgments

The authors express thank Luis Cid for his excellent bibliographic help. Luisa C. Hernández-Kelly (Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala) thanks Prof. Francisco Castelán for his critical reading of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Conahcyt [grant number CF-2023-I-935].

Notes on contributors

Orquídea G. Méndez-Flores

Orquidia G Méndez-Flores is an assistant Professor at Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco.

Luisa C. Hernández-Kelly

Luisa C. Hernández-Kelly is the Lab Manager at Laboratorio de Neurotoxicología Cinvestav and PhD candidante at the University of Tlaxcala.

Tatiana N. Olivares-Bañuelos

Tatiana N. Olivares-Bañuelos is a Principal Investigator at Universidad Autónoma de Baja California in Ensenada, Baja California, México.

Gabriel López-Ramírez

Gabriel López-Ramírez is an assistant Professor at Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco.

Arturo Ortega

Arturo Ortega is a Principal Investigator and Full Profesor at Cinvestav, CDMX.