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GLUT4 Expression

Meaning

GLUT4 Expression refers to the cellular presence and concentration of Glucose Transporter Type 4, a protein primarily found in adipose tissue and striated muscle (skeletal and cardiac), which is responsible for insulin-regulated glucose uptake. The functional expression and translocation of GLUT4 to the cell membrane are the rate-limiting steps for glucose clearance from the bloodstream, making it a central player in maintaining systemic glucose homeostasis. Impaired GLUT4 expression or translocation is a key molecular defect underlying insulin resistance and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.