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Immunocytochemical localization of glucose 6-phosphatase and cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in gluconeogenic tissues reveals unsuspected metabolic zonation

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An Erratum to this article was published on 30 January 2007

Abstract

Immunohistochemical analysis was used to define the precise cell-specific localization of Glucose-6-phosphatase (Glc6Pase) and cytosolic form of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK-C) in the digestive system (liver, small intestine and pancreas) and the kidney. Co-expression of Glc6Pase and PEPCK-C was shown to take place in hepatocytes, in proximal tubules of the cortex kidney and at the top of the villi of the small intestine suggesting that these tissues are all able to perform complete gluconeogenesis. On the other hand, intrahepatic bile ducts, collecting tubes of the nephron and the urinary epithelium in the calices of the kidney, as well as the crypts of the small intestine, express Glc6Pase without significant levels of PEPCK-C. In such cases, the function of Glc6Pase could be related to the transepithelial transport of glucose characteristic of these tissues, rather than to the neoformation of glucose. Lastly, PEPCK-C expression in the absence of Glc6Pase was noted in both the exocrine pancreas and the endocrine islets of Langerhans. Possible roles of PEPCK-C in exocrine pancreas might be the provision of gluconeogenic intermediates for further conversion into glucose in the liver, whereas PEPCK-C would be instrumental in pyruvate cycling, which has been suggested to play a regulatory role in insulin secretion by the β-cells of the islets.

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Abbreviations

Glc6Pase:

Glucose-6-phosphatase

GSD 1a:

Glycogen storage disease type 1a

PEPCK-C:

Cytosolic form of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase

RT–PCR:

Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction

PP:

Periportal

PV:

Perivenous

rL19:

Ribosomal protein L19

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the INSERM and INRA for funding their work, and the CNRS (G. M., F. R., A. S.) for funding their position. The sections were realized by N. Gadot (ANIPATH, Faculty of Medecine Laennec, Lyon). We thank P. Chevallier for her advisements in immunohistochemistry and Dr. AM. Madec and Prof. J. Trouillas for histology. The assistance of C. Vanbelle (INSERM, IFR62) for image analyses is gratefully acknowledged. We would also like to thank Dr. D. Granner who provided us sheep anti-PEPCK antibodies used for comparative purposes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inserm, U885, Lyon, F-69008, France

    Fabienne Rajas, Hélène Jourdan-Pineau, Anne Stefanutti, Elham Abou Mrad & Gilles Mithieux

  2. université de Lyon, Lyon, F-69008, France

    Fabienne Rajas, Hélène Jourdan-Pineau, Anne Stefanutti, Elham Abou Mrad & Gilles Mithieux

  3. université Lyon 1, Lyon, F-69008, France

    Fabienne Rajas, Hélène Jourdan-Pineau, Anne Stefanutti, Elham Abou Mrad & Gilles Mithieux

  4. INSERM, IFR62, Lyon, F-69008, France

    Fabienne Rajas, Hélène Jourdan-Pineau, Anne Stefanutti, Elham Abou Mrad & Gilles Mithieux

  5. Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva School of Medicine, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland

    Patrick B. Iynedjian

  6. INSERM U855, Faculté de Médecine Laennec, Rue Guillaume Paradin, 69372, Lyon cedex 08, France

    Fabienne Rajas

  7. Inserm U870, Lyon, F-69008, France

    Elham Abou Mrad

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  1. Fabienne Rajas
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  2. Hélène Jourdan-Pineau
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Correspondence to Fabienne Rajas.

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An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00418-007-0270-1

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Rajas, F., Jourdan-Pineau, H., Stefanutti, A. et al. Immunocytochemical localization of glucose 6-phosphatase and cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in gluconeogenic tissues reveals unsuspected metabolic zonation. Histochem Cell Biol 127, 555–565 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-006-0263-5

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