The protective role of endothelial GLUT1 in ischemic stroke

Abstract

Objective: To provide thorough insight on the protective role of endothelial glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) in ischemic stroke.

Methods: We comprehensively review the role of endothelial GLUT1 in ischemic stroke by narrating the findings concerning biological characteristics of GLUT1 in brain in depth, summarizing the changes of endothelial GLUT1 expression and activity during ischemic stroke, discussing how GLUT1 achieves its neuroprotective effect via maintaining endothelial function, and identifying some outstanding blind spots in current studies.

Results: Endothelial GLUT1 maintains persistent high glucose and energy requirements of the brain by transporting glucose through the blood-brain barrier, which preserves endothelial function and is beneficial to stroke prognosis.

Conclusion: This review underscores the potential involvement of GLUT1 trafficking, activity modulation, and degradation, and we look forward to more clinical and animal studies to illuminate these mechanisms.

Keywords: GLUT1; endothelial function; ischemic stroke; neuroprotection.