CeNT Seminar (20.05.2025): Essential Astrocytic GLUT1-IR Crosstalk in Alzheimer’s Disease
13 05 2025
Category: CeNT seminars, Main page
The Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw invites to a seminar by:
Maite Solas, PhD
University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
The seminar will be held in room 00.142
Abstract:
Astrocytes are considered an essential source of blood-borne glucose or its metabolites to neurons. Nonetheless, the necessity of the main astrocyte glucose transporter, i.e., GLUT1, for brain glucose metabolism has not been defined. Unexpectedly, we found that brain glucose metabolism was paradoxically augmented in mice with astrocytic GLUT1 reduction (GLUT1ΔGFAP mice). These mice also exhibited improved peripheral glucose metabolism especially in obesity, rendering them metabolically healthier. Mechanistically, we observed that GLUT1-deficient astrocytes exhibited increased insulin receptor–dependent ATP release, and that both astrocyte insulin signaling and brain purinergic signaling are essential for improved brain function and systemic glucose metabolism. Collectively, we demonstrate that astrocytic GLUT1 is central to the regulation of brain energetics, yet its depletion triggers a reprogramming of brain metabolism sufficient to sustain energy requirements, peripheral glucose homeostasis, and cognitive function.
Ardanaz et al, Science Advances, 2025