Figure 1
The absence of P2X7 expression modulates GLUT2 localization at the apical compartment of mouse jejunum enterocytes and increases glycaemia. (A–F) Immunohistochemical localization of GLUT2 in the jejunum enterocytes of P2rx7 +/+ (A,C,E) and P2rx7 −/− mice (B,D,F). In mouse jejunum, GLUT2 was found mainly located at the apex of villi in both P2rx7 +/+ and P2rx7 −/− mice. We observed a differential localization of GLUT2 with increase apical (black arrows) and basolateral (black arrowheads) signals for GLUT2 in P2rx7 −/− mice (B,D) as compared to P2rx7 +/+ animals (A,C). Panels E and F are a 2.5x magnification of the selected area (black box) showed in panels C and D, respectively. The micrographs are representative of four P2rx7 +/+ mice and four knockout animals with two different animals shown on panels A–D. For panels A to D the scale bars = 50 μm at an original magnification of 40x. (G) Western blot analysis of isolated mouse jejunum IEC showing the absence of P2X7 expression in knockout animals and the similar expression of GLUT2 in both animal groups. Whole lung protein lysate was used as a positive control for P2X7 expression and VINCULIN as a control for protein loading and integrity. H) Blood glucose levels were determined after 6 h of diurnal fasting and reported as the mean ± SEM. P2rx7 +/+ (open bars) and P2rx7 −/− (black bars) male mice of different age (n = 5 to 9 animals per groups) were used and the statistical significance determined by an unpaired t test, where *p < 0.05.
