Notably, glucose was transported across the plasma membrane by glucose transporters (GLUT); the mRNA and protein expression of GLUT1 (4.2-fold and sixfold increase, respectively, P ≤ 0.05) were significantly upregulated in the hippocampus of lupus mice compared to control mice (Additional file 1: Fig. S2B–D). The gene discussed is SLC2A1; the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.