Modulation of glucose uptake in a human choriocarcinoma cell line (BeWo) by dietary bioactive compounds and drugs of abuse

The aim of this work was to investigate the putative modulation of glucose uptake in trophoblast cells by several dietary compounds and by drugs of abuse. For this, the acute (26 min) and chronic (48 h) effect of these substances on the apical uptake of H-3-2-deoxy-D-glucose (H-3-DG) by a human choriocarcinoma cell line (BeWo) was determined. H-3-DG apical uptake by BeWo cells was time dependent, displayed saturable kinetics (V-max = 1210 +/- 29 nmol mg protein(-1) 6 min(-1) and K-m = 13.4 +/- 0.5 mM) and was insulin-insensitive and cytochalasin B-sensitive (by up to 60%). Acutely, acetaldehyde (30-100 mM), resveratrol, xanthohumol, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (100 mu M), chrysin and quercetin (10-100 mu M) decreased H-3-DG apical uptake, whereas rutin, catechin (10-100 mu M), epicatechin (100 mu M) and ethanol (10 mM) increased it. Quercetin and xanthohumol seem to be non-competitive inhibitors of H-3-DG apical uptake, whereas both epigallocatechin-3-gallate and acetaldehyde decreased both the K-m and V-max values. Chronically, rutin and myricetin increased the apical uptake of H-3-DG both isolated (0.1-1 mu M) and in combination (both at 1 mu M), whereas theophylline (0.1-1 mu M) and amphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (0.25-1 mu M) and Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (1 nM) decreased it. In conclusion, H-3-DG apical uptake by BeWo cells is differentially modulated by different compounds present in drinks and by drugs of abuse.