Recent advances on the regulation of glucose transporter 4 transport and its relationship with myocardial viability in cardiomyocytes

Glucose plays an important role in cardiac metabolism. It is the major energy source during myocardial ischemia. Trans-membrane glucose transport is the first rate-limited step for myocardial glucose metabolism, which is facilitated by glucose transports(GLUTs) and GLUT4 represents an important mechanism that governs the entry of glucose into the heart. The quality and quantity of GLUT4 play a decisive role in transmembrane glucose transport. To better retrieve myocardial metabolism and improve myocardial function under myocardial ischemia conditions, it is urgent to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of GLUT4 expression, the regulatory mechanism of GLUT4 translocation, the regulatory mechanism of GLUT4 intrinsic activity and glucose transport in cardiomyocytes. This review summarized the current state of knowledge regarding the regulation of GLUT4 functioning and glucose transport in cardiomyocytes.