Enhancement of glucose transport by vascular endothelial growth factor in retinal endothelial cells.

Abstract

The present study demonstrates VEGF-mediated enhancement of retinal endothelial cell glucose transport and suggests that this increase is due to PKC beta-mediated translocation of cytosolic GLUT1 to the plasma membrane surface. Upregulation of retinal endothelial cell glucose transport by various factors associated with the development of retinopathy may be responsible for the metabolic derangements observed in the diabetic inner blood-retinal barrier in vivo.