Identification of nutrient transporters unique to undifferentiated cells and cancer cells and their application to medicine

本研究旨在分析未分化细胞和癌细胞中单羧酸转运体（MCT）的表达，以评价单羧酸（乳酸、乙酸、丙酮酸等）作为重要营养物质的作用。在细胞持续更新的皮肤、肠和骨髓中，分裂和未分化的细胞表达MCT 1，而葡萄糖转运蛋白的表达水平较低。此外，卵巢和睾丸中的生殖细胞以及癌细胞表达MCT 1以处理由活化的糖酵解产生的乳酸。这些信息可能有助于我们开发抗癌药物的新策略。

The present study is aimed to analyze the expression of monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) in the undifferentiated cells and cancer cells, in order to evaluate the monocarboxylates (lactate, acetic acids, pyruvate, and so on) as important nutrients. In the skin, intestine, and bone marrow where cells are renewing consistently, dividing and undifferentiated cells expressed MCT1, whereas the expression of glucose transporters was low in level. Furthermore, genital cells in the ovary and testis and cancer cells expressed MCT1 to handle lactate which is produced by activated glycolysis. This information may help us to develop anti-cancer drugs of new strategy.