Unraveling the Role of Glucose Transporters (GLUTs) in Rheumatoid arthritis & autoimmunity: A Review

Abstract

The involvement of glucose transporters (GLUTs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other autoimmune disorders is crucial. This review comprehensively explores their expression patterns, regulatory mechanisms, and impacts on immune cell metabolism in RA, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting 0.24 to 1 percent of the global population. Despite recent therapeutic advancements, the exact cause of RA remains poorly understood, and there is currently no known cure. Autoimmunity, influenced by genetic and environmental factors, plays a central role in the development of RA. Epigenetic studies have revealed global hypomethylation in synovial cells, potentially contributing to the overexpression of inflammatory cytokines. The emerging field of immunometabolism has highlighted metabolic changes in autoimmune diseases, such as RA, which leads to increased glucose uptake. This review aims to understand better how GLUTs contribute to RA and autoimmunity by delving into the intricate relationship between glucose transport and immune cell function. Ultimately, this may lead to the developmentof novel therapeutic strategies to target glucose metabolism to modulate immune responses and alleviate disease symptoms.