SLC2A5

SLC2A5 Full Name

solute carrier family 2 (facilitated glucose/fructose transporter), member 5

SLC2A5 Introduction

SLC2A5 encodes the solute carrier family 2 member 5 protein, also known as glucose transporter 5 (GLUT5), which functions as a fructose-specific facilitative transporter. Unlike other GLUT family members that primarily transport glucose, GLUT5 exhibits high specificity for fructose and is essential for the absorption of dietary fructose in the small intestine. The protein is localized to the apical membrane of enterocytes, where it mediates the uptake of fructose from the intestinal lumen into the cell. Beyond the intestine, SLC2A5 is expressed in other tissues including the kidney, testes, and certain brain regions, where it may contribute to fructose metabolism and signaling. In the central nervous system, SLC2A5 is primarily expressed in microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, where it regulates fructose uptake and influences microglial activation and inflammatory responses.

Figure 1. Glucose-induced metabolic reprogramming of activated microglia and macrophages. (Source: Ting KKY. 2024)

Dysregulation of SLC2A5 has been implicated in several metabolic and inflammatory disorders. In the context of obesity and metabolic syndrome, high-fructose diets promote microglial activation and neuroinflammation through SLC2A5-mediated fructose uptake, contributing to leptin resistance and hypothalamic dysfunction. Studies have shown that ablation of Slc2a5 in microglia attenuates high-fructose diet-induced hypothalamic inflammation and improves metabolic homeostasis. Additionally, altered SLC2A5 expression has been observed in certain cancers, including breast and colorectal cancer, where fructose metabolism may support tumor growth and progression. The transporter's role in fructose-induced inflammation and metabolic dysregulation makes it a potential target for treating obesity-related complications and fructose-associated metabolic disorders. Given the increasing consumption of fructose in the modern diet, understanding SLC2A5 regulation and function has important implications for public health and disease prevention.

Alternate Names for SLC2A5

SLC2A5; solute carrier family 2 (facilitated glucose/fructose transporter), member 5; GLUT5; GLUT-5; solute carrier family 2, facilitated glucose transporter member 5; glucose transporter-like protein 5; glucose transporter type 5, small intestine;

• 1. Ting KKY. Fructose overconsumption-induced reprogramming of microglia metabolism and function. Front Immunol. 2024 Mar 26;15:1375453.
  2. Mizuno TM, et al. Regulation of the Fructose Transporter Gene Slc2a5 Expression by Glucose in Cultured Microglial Cells. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Nov 23;22(23):12668.