Dioleoylphosphoethanolamine Retains Cell Surface GLUT4 by Inhibiting PKCα-Driven Internalization.

Phosphatidylethanolamine, a component of the plasma membrane, regulates diverse cellular processes. The present study investigated the role of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) in the trafficking of the glucose transporter GLUT4 and the glucose homeostasis. Monitoring of GLUT4 trafficking, GLUT4 internalization assay, and glucose uptake assay were carried out using differentiated 3T3-L1-GLUT4myc adipocytes. Akt1/2 and PKC isozymes were knocked-down by transfecting each siRNA. Cell-free PKC assay and in situ PKCα assay with a FRET probe were carried out. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed using BKS.Cg-+Lepdb/+Lebdb/Jcl mice, an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). DOPE increased cell surface localization of the glucose transporter GLUT4 in differentiated 3T3-L1-GLUT4myc adipocytes, regardless of Akt activation. Likewise, PKCα deficiency increased cell surface localization of GLUT4, that occludes the effect of DOPE. DOPE clearly suppressed phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced PKCα activation in the cell-free and in situ PKC assay. DOPE and PKCα deficiency cancelled endocytic internalization of GLUT4 localized on the plasma membrane after insulin stimulation. DOPE significantly enhanced glucose uptake into cells. A similar effect was obtained by knocking-down PKCα, that occludes the effect of DOPE. In OGTT, oral administration with DOPE effectively restricted an increase in the blood glucose levels after glucose loading in type 2 DM model mice. The results of the present study show that DOPE retains cell surface GLUT4 by suppressing PKCα-driven endocytic internalization of GLUT4, to enhance glucose uptake into cells and restrict an increase in the blood glucose levels after glucose loading in type 2 DM.