The Krüppel-like factor KLF15 regulates the insulin-sensitive glucose transporter GLUT4

J Biol Chem. 2002 Sep 13;277(37):34322-8. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M201304200. Epub 2002 Jul 3.

Abstract

Resistance to the stimulatory effects of insulin on glucose utilization is a key feature of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and the metabolic syndrome. Recent studies suggest that insulin resistance is primarily caused by a defect in glucose transport. GLUT4 is the main insulin-responsive glucose transporter and is expressed predominantly in muscle and adipose tissues. Whereas GLUT4 has been shown to play a critical role in maintaining systemic glucose homeostasis, the mechanisms regulating its expression are incompletely understood. We have cloned the murine homologue of KLF15, a member of the Krüppel-like family of transcription factors. KLF15 is highly expressed in adipocytes and myocytes in vivo and is induced when 3T3-L1 preadipocytes are differentiated into adipocytes. Overexpression of KLF15 in adipose and muscle cell lines potently induces GLUT4 expression. This effect is specific to KLF15 as overexpression of two other Krüppel-like factors, KLF2/LKLF and KLF4/GKLF, did not induce GLUT4 expression. Both basal (3.3-fold, p < 0.001) and insulin-stimulated (2.4-fold, p < 0.00001) glucose uptake are increased in KLF15-overexpressing adipocytes. In co-transfection assays, KLF15 and MEF2A, a known activator of GLUT4, synergistically activates the GLUT4 promoter. Promoter deletion and mutational analyses provide evidence that this activity requires an intact KLF15-binding site proximal to the MEF2A site. Finally, co-immunoprecipitation assays show that KLF15 specifically interacts with MEF2A. These studies indicate that KLF15 is an important regulator of GLUT4 in both adipose and muscle tissues.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Adipose Tissue / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha / physiology
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / analysis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Glucose Transporter Type 4
  • Kruppel-Like Factor 4
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
  • MEF2 Transcription Factors
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / genetics*
  • Muscle Proteins*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Myogenic Regulatory Factors
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Repressor Proteins*
  • Transcription Factors / analysis
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Transcriptional Activation

Substances

  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Glucose Transporter Type 4
  • Klf15 protein, mouse
  • Klf4 protein, mouse
  • Kruppel-Like Factor 4
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
  • MEF2 Transcription Factors
  • Mef2a protein, mouse
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins
  • Muscle Proteins
  • Myogenic Regulatory Factors
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Slc2a4 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors
  • DNA
  • Glucose