Aims/hypothesis

Renal GLUT2 is increased in diabetes, thereby enhancing glucose reabsorption and worsening hyperglycaemia. Here, we determined whether loss of Glut2 (also known as Slc2a2) specifically in the kidneys would reverse hyperglycaemia and normalise body weight in mouse models of diabetes and obesity.

Methods

We used the tamoxifen-inducible CreERT2-Lox system in mice to knockout Glut2 specifically in the kidneys (Ks-Glut2 KO) to establish the contribution of renal GLUT2 to systemic glucose homeostasis in health and in insulin-dependent as well as non-insulin-dependent diabetes. We measured circulating glucose and insulin levels in response to OGTT or IVGTT under different experimental conditions in the Ks-Glut2 KO and their control mice. Moreover, we quantified urine glucose levels to explain the phenotype of the mice independently of insulin actions. We also used a transcription factor array to identify mechanisms underlying the crosstalk between renal GLUT2 and sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2).

Results

The Ks-Glut2 KO mice exhibited improved glucose tolerance and massive glucosuria. Interestingly, this improvement in blood glucose control was eliminated when we knocked out Glut2 in the liver in addition to the kidneys, suggesting that the improvement is attributable to the lack of renal GLUT2. Remarkably, induction of renal Glut2 deficiency reversed hyperglycaemia and normalised body weight in mouse models of diabetes and obesity. Longitudinal monitoring of renal glucose transporters revealed that Sglt2 (also known as Slc5a2) expression was almost abolished 3 weeks after inducing renal Glut2 deficiency. To identify a molecular basis for this crosstalk, we screened for renal transcription factors that were downregulated in the Ks-Glut2 KO mice. Hnf1α (also known as Hnf1a) was among the genes most downregulated and its recovery restored Sglt2 expression in primary renal proximal tubular cells isolated from the Ks-Glut2 KO mice.

Conclusions/interpretation

Altogether, these results demonstrate a novel crosstalk between renal GLUT2 and SGLT2 in regulating systemic glucose homeostasis via glucose reabsorption. Our findings also indicate that inhibiting renal GLUT2 is a potential therapy for diabetes and obesity.

Graphical abstract