SLC2A3 (solute carrier family 2) encodes a high-affinity glucose transporter protein. It is widely expressed in various tissues specifically chondrocytes. It is involved in the immune response and chondrocyte metabolism. During embryonic development, it helps to transport glucose from maternal blood across the placental trophoblastic tissue for the fetal growth. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), it plays a vital role in the immune response and chondrocyte function. In addition to RA, it is also associated with various diseases, including dyslexia, Alzheimer′s disease, schizophrenia, and Huntingtons disease. It has also been reported that GLUT3 gene may have clinical importance in the myelomeningocele (MM) disease.
