Expression and function of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) expression in activated hepatic stellate cells

Hyperglycemia is one of the factors known to induce and promote hepatic fibrogenesis, however, glucose metabolism in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the key cells in hepatic fibrosis, is unknown. Aerobic glycolysis despite the presence of oxygen is a characteristic of tumor cells. Thus, glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), where GLUT1 acts as a tumor promoter, while normal liver expresses only low levels of GLUT1. Furthermore, the expression of monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs), which are responsible for lactate transport, is characteristic for the glyco…