Interleukin-1 stimulates glucose transport in rat adipose cells. Evidence for receptor discrimination between IL-1 beta and IL-1 alpha.

The effect of interleukin 1 (IL-1) on glucose transport activity in isolated rat adipose cells was examined. IL-1 beta stimulated 3-O-methylglucose (3OMG) transport in a time and dose dependent manner. This effect appears to be due to increased maximal transport velocity (Vmax) of the carrier. Addition of insulin and IL-1 beta resulted in an additive stimulation of transport, suggesting different mechanisms. IL-1 alpha had no effect on glucose transport. Glu-4, a relatively inactive IL-1 beta analogue in most cells, stimulated glucose uptake in a time and dose dependent manner with kinetics indistinguishable from those of IL-1 beta.