Neurodevelopment Is Dependent on Maternal Diet: Placenta and Brain Glucose Transporters GLUT1 and GLUT3

Abstract

Glucose is the primary energy source for most mammalian cells and its transport is affected by a family of facilitative glucose transporters (GLUTs) encoded by the SLC2 gene. GLUT1 and GLUT3, highly expressed isoforms in the blood-brain barrier and neuronal membranes, respectively, are associated with multiple neurodevelopmental disorders including epilepsy, dyslexia, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Dietary therapies, such as the ketogenic diet, are widely accepted treatments for patients with the GLUT1 deficiency syndrome, while ameliorating certain symptoms associated with GLUT3 deficiency in animal models. A ketogenic diet, high-fat diet, and calorie/energy restriction during prenatal and postnatal stages can also alter the placental and brain GLUTs expression with long-term consequences on neurobehavior. This review focuses primarily on the role of diet/energy perturbations upon GLUT isoform-mediated emergence of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.

Keywords: Huntington’s disease; brain; glucose transporter; glucose transporter 3; maternal diet; neurodegenerative disorders; neurodevelopment; neurodevelopmental disorders; placenta; postnatal diet.

Figure 1

The transport mechanisms underlying transfer of glucose, ketone body, and lactate across the blood–brain barrier from capillary vessels to neurons and astrocytes. GLUT; glucose transporter, MCT; monocarboxylate transporters.