Sodium-myoinositol cotransporter-1, SMIT1, mediates the production of reactive oxygen species induced by hyperglycemia in the heart

Sci Rep. 2017 Jan 27:7:41166. doi: 10.1038/srep41166.

Abstract

Hyperglycemia (HG) stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species in the heart through activation of NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2). This production is independent of glucose metabolism but requires sodium/glucose cotransporters (SGLT). Seven SGLT isoforms (SGLT1 to 6 and sodium-myoinositol cotransporter-1, SMIT1) are known, although their expression and function in the heart remain elusive. We investigated these 7 isoforms and found that only SGLT1 and SMIT1 were expressed in mouse, rat and human hearts. In cardiomyocytes, galactose (transported through SGLT1) did not activate NOX2. Accordingly, SGLT1 deficiency did not prevent HG-induced NOX2 activation, ruling it out in the cellular response to HG. In contrast, myo-inositol (transported through SMIT1) reproduced the toxic effects of HG. SMIT1 overexpression exacerbated glucotoxicity and sensitized cardiomyocytes to HG, whereas its deletion prevented HG-induced NOX2 activation. In conclusion, our results show that heart SMIT1 senses HG and triggers NOX2 activation. This could participate in the redox signaling in hyperglycemic heart and contribute to the pathophysiology of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / genetics
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Hyperglycemia / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Myocardium / metabolism*
  • NADPH Oxidase 2 / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Sodium-Glucose Transporter 1
  • Symporters / genetics
  • Symporters / metabolism*

Substances

  • Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • SLC5A1 protein, human
  • Sodium-Glucose Transporter 1
  • Symporters
  • SLC5A3 protein, human
  • CYBB protein, human
  • NADPH Oxidase 2