Stimulation of muscle cell glucose uptake by resveratrol through sirtuins and AMPK

In L6 myotubes RSV (100 μM) induced maximum stimulation of glucose (2DG) uptake (201 ± 8.90% of control, p < 0.001), an effect that was similar to insulin action. RSV-stimulated glucose uptake was abolished by AMPK inhibition. In the presence of the sirtuin inhibitor nicotinamide, RSV-stimulated 2DG uptake and AMPK phosphorylation were abolished. RSV did not stimulate significant translocation of GLUT4 or GLUT1 transporters. However, treatment with indinavir, a GLUT4 specific inhibitor, blocked RSV-stimulated glucose uptake. We propose that RSV elevates glucose uptake in muscle cells through a mechanism that involves sirtuins and AMPK and possibly stimulation of GLUT4 transporter intrinsic activity.