Differential glucose requirement in skin homeostasis and injury identifies a therapeutic target for psoriasis

• Published in: Nature medicine Vol. 24; no. 5; pp. 617 - 627
• Main Authors: Zhang, Zhuzhen, Zi, Zhenzhen, Lee, Eunice E, Zhao, Jiawei, Contreras, Diana C, South, Andrew P, Abel, E Dale, Chong, Benjamin F, Vandergriff, Travis, Hosler, Gregory A, Scherer, Philipp E, Mettlen, Marcel, Rathmell, Jeffrey C, DeBerardinis, Ralph J, Wang, Richard C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Nature Publishing Group 01.05.2018
• Subjects: Amino acids; Animal models; Animals; Biological Transport - radiation effects; Cell Differentiation - radiation effects; Cell Proliferation - radiation effects; Cells, Cultured; Deactivation; Disease Models, Animal; Fatty Acids - metabolism; Gene Deletion; Gene expression; Glucose; Glucose - metabolism; Glucose transport; Glucose Transporter Type 1 - deficiency; Glucose Transporter Type 1 - metabolism; GLUT1 protein; Hexose; Homeostasis; Humans; Hyperplasia; Inactivation; Keratinocytes; Keratinocytes - metabolism; Keratinocytes - pathology; Keratinocytes - radiation effects; Metabolism; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Organoids; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative stress; Pharmacology; Psoriasis; Psoriasis - pathology; Psoriasis - therapy; Skin; Skin - injuries; Skin - metabolism; Skin - pathology; Skin diseases; Sphingolipids; Stress, Physiological; Target recognition; Therapeutic applications; Topical application; Ultraviolet Rays
• ISSN: 1078-8956; 1546-170X
• DOI: 10.1038/s41591-018-0003-0

Proliferating cells, compared with quiescent cells, are more dependent on glucose for their growth. Although glucose transport in keratinocytes is mediated largely by the Glut1 facilitative transporter, we found that keratinocyte-specific ablation of Glut1 did not compromise mouse skin development and homeostasis. Ex vivo metabolic profiling revealed altered sphingolipid, hexose, amino acid, and nucleotide metabolism in Glut1-deficient keratinocytes, thus suggesting metabolic adaptation. However, cultured Glut1-deficient keratinocytes displayed metabolic and oxidative stress and impaired proliferation. Similarly, Glut1 deficiency impaired in vivo keratinocyte proliferation and migration within wounded or UV-damaged mouse skin. Notably, both genetic and pharmacological Glut1 inactivation decreased hyperplasia in mouse models of psoriasis-like disease. Topical application of a Glut1 inhibitor also decreased inflammation in these models. Glut1 inhibition decreased the expression of pathology-associated genes in human psoriatic skin organoids. Thus, Glut1 is selectively required for injury- and inflammation-associated keratinocyte proliferation, and its inhibition offers a novel treatment strategy for psoriasis.