Scientists had previously hypothesized that glia, which are support cells in the brain, processed the majority of the glucose in the brain.
According to previous research, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are associated with a reduction in the brain’s glucose uptake. The new information may assist us in determining how to maintain the health of our brains as we age and lead to the development of novel treatments for existing diseases.
Tracing Glucose Breakdown in Neurons
Nakamura’s team was able to resolve this issue by creating human neurons from scratch using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells). Using IPS cell technology, researchers can reprogram adult cells from blood and skin to transform them into any type of cell in the body.
Using CRISPR gene editing, the scientists eliminated two essential proteins from the cells, allowing them to better comprehend how neurons utilized the byproducts of glucose metabolism. Glycolysis is the primary method by which cells metabolize glucose, and both of these proteins are required for this process. When one of these proteins was removed from isolated human neurons, glucose degradation ceased.
The scientists then combined the neurons with a type of glucose that, due to its distinctive label, could be tracked even as it was broken down. This study demonstrated that neurons can absorb glucose and convert it into smaller molecules within the cell.
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Providing Energy for Brain Function
Nakamura’s team investigated the relevance of neuronal glucose metabolism in living organisms by focusing on mice.
Neurons were engineered to be deficient in proteins required for glucose import and glycolysis without affecting other types of brain cells. Consequently, the cognitive function of the mice declined significantly with age.
According to Nakamura’s explanation, this demonstrates that neurons not only have the ability to metabolize glucose but also rely on glycolysis for normal operation.
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