Glucose Metabolism through Pentose Phosphate Pathway: Effects on the Development of Congenital Heart Defects

Several studies have shown that genes related to cardiac muscle and function thrive in low glucose concentrations, whereas cells over actively replicate and do not reach full maturation in high glucose concentrations. Data suggests that blocking the pentose phosphate pathway induces cardiac maturation. The pentose phosphate pathway is responsible for generating ribose sugars that contribute to making nucleotides and NADP+/NADPH. Prolonged activation of the pentose phosphate pathway leads to excess nucleotide synthesis resulting in immature cardiomyocytes leading to congenital heart defects. This paper discussed how the pentose phosphate pathway is involved in the inhibition of fetal cardiomyocytes in high glucose conditions