Effects of glucose exposures on gene expressions in HepG2 cells

SULT1E1, the enzyme that specifically and effectively sulfates estrogens to its inactive forms-sulfated estrogens has been found to be highly induced in high glucose (450 mg/dL) cultured human liver hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. To confirm the SULT1E1 transcription in response to glucose exposures and to investigate whether glucose signal may alter the other xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme transcripts in HepG2 cells, we have conducted whole genome microarray expression profiling as a platform to identify genes that may response to glucose exposures. HepG2 cells were exposed to low glucose (40 mg/dL) or high glucose (450 mg/dL) DMEM for 48 hours respectively. The xenobiotic metabolic enzyme transcripts such as SULTs, CYPs, UGTs and GSTs were significantly altered in response to glucose exposures. Glucose responsive gene expression in HepG2 cells was measured after exposure to low glucose (40 mg/dL) and high glucose (450 mg/dL) conditons for 48 hours. 4 replicates were preformed for each experiment.