Gene expression of GLUT isoforms and VHL in oral squamous cell carcinoma

In human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines, we detected atypical mRNA expression of GLUT2 and/or GLUT4 in addition to enhanced expression of GLUT1 mRNA using RT-PCR. In semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of mRNA expression in OSCC cell lines, we found an inverse relationship between mRNA expression of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) and that of GLUT1, with no apparent influence on the expression of other GLUTs. These findings suggest that the reduction of VHL may play a critical role in glucose uptake of OSCC cell lines, with enhancement of GLUT1 expression.