ROS production and GLUT1 activity in two human megakaryocytic cell lines

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been increasingly recognised as intracellular messengers in signal transduction following receptor activation by a variety of bioactive peptides including growth factors, cytokines and hormones. In this study ROS production and glucose transport activity were evaluated in the growth factor dependent M07e cells and in B1647 cells, not requiring additional hematopoietic cytokines for growth: the aim was to investigate whether ROS could be involved in the regulation of Glut1-mediated glucose uptake in both cell lines. The effect of the synthetic superoxide and hydrogen peroxide scavenger EUK-134 on DOG uptake activity and intracellular ROS formation supports the concept of reactive oxygen species as signalling molecules. In order to investigate ROS generation sources, diphenyleneiodonium, an inhibitor of flavoprotein centres and apocynin, an inhibitor of NAD(P)H oxidase, were used: they inhibit both ROS production and glucose uptake activation. All these data support the hypothesis that ROS can contribute to the regulation of glucose transport, not only in M07e cells but also in B1647 cells; we could speculate that one possible source of ROS, linked somehow with Glut1 activity, can be a NAD(P)H oxidase similar to that one present in phagocytic cells.