Platelet-derived growth factor regulates glucose transporter expression.

Regulated glucose transport is necessary for controlled cellular proliferation. In this communication, we demonstrate that a growth factor, namely platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), regulates expression of the glucose transporter gene. PDGF induced a 1.7-fold increase in both the rate of glucose transport and the amount of membrane-associated glucose transporter protein in mouse fibroblasts 6 h after treatment. This was accompanied by a 5-fold increase in the accumulation of the HepG-2/rat brain glucose transporter mRNA. PDGF induced both an increase in the rate of transcription of the glucose transporter gene and an increase in the stability of its mRNA. This induction could be achieved in the presence of cycloheximide. The glucose transporter is therefore a member of the class of PDGF-inducible genes known as competence genes.