scholarly journals Role of AMP-activated protein kinase in adipose tissue metabolism and inflammation

2013 ◽  
Vol 124 (8) ◽  
pp. 491-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Bijland ◽  
Sarah J. Mancini ◽  
Ian P. Salt

AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) is a key regulator of cellular and whole-body energy balance. AMPK phosphorylates and regulates many proteins concerned with nutrient metabolism, largely acting to suppress anabolic ATP-consuming pathways while stimulating catabolic ATP-generating pathways. This has led to considerable interest in AMPK as a therapeutic target for the metabolic dysfunction observed in obesity and insulin resistance. The role of AMPK in skeletal muscle and the liver has been extensively studied, such that AMPK has been demonstrated to inhibit synthesis of fatty acids, cholesterol and isoprenoids, hepatic gluconeogenesis and translation while increasing fatty acid oxidation, muscle glucose transport, mitochondrial biogenesis and caloric intake. The role of AMPK in the other principal metabolic and insulin-sensitive tissue, adipose, remains poorly characterized in comparison, yet increasing evidence supports an important role for AMPK in adipose tissue function. Obesity is characterized by hypertrophy of adipocytes and the development of a chronic sub-clinical pro-inflammatory environment in adipose tissue, leading to increased infiltration of immune cells. This combination of dysfunctional hypertrophic adipocytes and a pro-inflammatory environment contributes to insulin resistance and the development of Type 2 diabetes. Exciting recent studies indicate that AMPK may not only influence metabolism in adipocytes, but also act to suppress this pro-inflammatory environment, such that targeting AMPK in adipose tissue may be desirable to normalize adipose dysfunction and inflammation. In the present review, we discuss the role of AMPK in adipose tissue, focussing on the regulation of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, adipogenesis and pro-inflammatory pathways in physiological and pathophysiological conditions.

2019 ◽  
Vol 476 (12) ◽  
pp. 1725-1740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar J. Katwan ◽  
Fatmah Alghamdi ◽  
Tarek A. Almabrouk ◽  
Sarah J. Mancini ◽  
Simon Kennedy ◽  
...  

Abstract AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a heterotrimer of α-catalytic and β- and γ-regulatory subunits that acts to regulate cellular and whole-body nutrient metabolism. The key role of AMPK in sensing energy status has led to significant interest in AMPK as a therapeutic target for dysfunctional metabolism in type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and obesity. Despite the actions of AMPK in the liver and skeletal muscle being extensively studied, the role of AMPK in adipose tissue and adipocytes remains less well characterised. Small molecules that selectively influence AMPK heterotrimers containing specific AMPKβ subunit isoforms have been developed, including MT47-100, which selectively inhibits complexes containing AMPKβ2. AMPKβ1 and AMPKβ2 are the principal AMPKβ subunit isoforms in rodent liver and skeletal muscle, respectively, yet the contribution of specific AMPKβ isoforms to adipose tissue function, however, remains largely unknown. This study therefore sought to determine the contribution of AMPKβ subunit isoforms to adipocyte biology, focussing on adipogenesis. AMPKβ2 was the principal AMPKβ isoform in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, isolated rodent adipocytes and human subcutaneous adipose tissue, as assessed by the contribution to total cellular AMPK activity. Down-regulation of AMPKβ2 with siRNA inhibited lipid accumulation, cellular adiponectin levels and adiponectin secretion during 3T3-L1 adipogenesis, whereas down-regulation of AMPKβ1 had no effect. Incubation of 3T3-L1 cells with MT47-100 selectively inhibited AMPK complexes containing AMPKβ2 whilst simultaneously inhibiting cellular lipid accumulation as well as cellular levels and secretion of adiponectin. Taken together, these data indicate that increased expression of AMPKβ2 is an important feature of efficient adipogenesis.


2009 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory R. Steinberg

During moderate-intensity exercise, fatty acids are the predominant substrate for working skeletal muscle. The release of fatty acids from adipose tissue stores, combined with the ability of skeletal muscle to actively fine tune the gradient between fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism, depending on substrate availability and energetic demands, requires a coordinated system of metabolic control. Over the past decade, since the discovery that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was increased in accordance with exercise intensity, there has been significant interest in the proposed role of this ancient stress-sensing kinase as a critical integrative switch controlling metabolic responses during exercise. In this review, studies examining the role of AMPK as a regulator of fatty acid metabolism in both adipose tissue and skeletal muscle during exercise will be discussed. Exercise induces activation of AMPK in adipocytes and regulates triglyceride hydrolysis and esterfication through phosphorylation of hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) and glycerol-3-phosphate acyl-transferase, respectively. In skeletal muscle, exercise-induced activation of AMPK is associated with increases in fatty acid uptake, phosphorylation of HSL, and increased fatty acid oxidation, which is thought to occur via the acetyl-CoA carboxylase-malony-CoA-CPT-1 signalling axis. Despite the importance of AMPK in regulating fatty acid metabolism under resting conditions, recent evidence from transgenic models of AMPK deficiency suggest that alternative signalling pathways may also be important for the control of fatty acid metabolism during exercise.


Author(s):  
Charmaine S. Tam ◽  
Leanne M. Redman

AbstractObesity is characterized by a state of chronic low-grade inflammation due to increased immune cells, specifically infiltrated macrophages into adipose tissue, which in turn secrete a range of proinflammatory mediators. This nonselective low-grade inflammation of adipose tissue is systemic in nature and can impair insulin signaling pathways, thus, increasing the risk of developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The aim of this review is to provide an update on clinical studies examining the role of adipose tissue in the development of obesity-associated complications in humans. We will discuss adipose tissue inflammation during different scenarios of energy imbalance and metabolic dysfunction including obesity and overfeeding, weight loss by calorie restriction or bariatric surgery, and conditions of insulin resistance (diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome).


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1122
Author(s):  
Jamie I. van der van der Vaart ◽  
Mariëtte R. Boon ◽  
Riekelt H. Houtkooper

Obesity is becoming a pandemic, and its prevalence is still increasing. Considering that obesity increases the risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases, research efforts are focusing on new ways to combat obesity. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has emerged as a possible target to achieve this for its functional role in energy expenditure by means of increasing thermogenesis. An important metabolic sensor and regulator of whole-body energy balance is AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and its role in energy metabolism is evident. This review highlights the mechanisms of BAT activation and investigates how AMPK can be used as a target for BAT activation. We review compounds and other factors that are able to activate AMPK and further discuss the therapeutic use of AMPK in BAT activation. Extensive research shows that AMPK can be activated by a number of different kinases, such as LKB1, CaMKK, but also small molecules, hormones, and metabolic stresses. AMPK is able to activate BAT by inducing adipogenesis, maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis and inducing browning in white adipose tissue. We conclude that, despite encouraging results, many uncertainties should be clarified before AMPK can be posed as a target for anti-obesity treatment via BAT activation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (14) ◽  
pp. 1961-1976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sun-Joong Kim ◽  
Tianyi Tang ◽  
Marcia Abbott ◽  
Jose A. Viscarra ◽  
Yuhui Wang ◽  
...  

The role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in promoting fatty acid (FA) oxidation in various tissues, such as liver and muscle, has been well understood. However, the role of AMPK in lipolysis and FA metabolism in adipose tissue has been controversial. To investigate the role of AMPK in the regulation of adipose lipolysisin vivo, we generated mice with adipose-tissue-specific knockout of both the α1 and α2 catalytic subunits of AMPK (AMPK-ASKO mice) by using aP2-Cre and adiponectin-Cre. Both models of AMPK-ASKO ablation show no changes in desnutrin/ATGL levels but have defective phosphorylation of desnutrin/ATGL at S406 to decrease its triacylglycerol (TAG) hydrolase activity, lowering basal lipolysis in adipose tissue. These mice also show defective phosphorylation of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) at S565, with higher phosphorylation at protein kinase A sites S563 and S660, increasing its hydrolase activity and isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis. With higher overall adipose lipolysis, both models of AMPK-ASKO mice are lean, having smaller adipocytes with lower TAG and higher intracellular free-FA levels. Moreover, FAs from higher lipolysis activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta to induce FA oxidative genes and increase FA oxidation and energy expenditure. Overall, for the first time, we providein vivoevidence of the role of AMPK in the phosphorylation and regulation of desnutrin/ATGL and HSL and thus adipose lipolysis.


2011 ◽  
Vol 301 (2) ◽  
pp. R473-R483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jake D. Bauwens ◽  
Eric G. Schmuck ◽  
Christopher R. Lindholm ◽  
Rebecca L. Ertel ◽  
Jacob D. Mulligan ◽  
...  

Recent studies indicate that a substantial amount of metabolically active brown adipose tissue (BAT) exists in adult humans. Given the unique ability of BAT to convert calories to heat, there is intense interest in understanding the regulation of BAT metabolism in hopes that its manipulation might be an effective way of expending excess calories. Because of the established role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) as a “metabolic master switch” and its extremely high levels of activity in BAT, it was hypothesized that AMPK might play a central role in regulating BAT metabolism. To test this hypothesis, whole body α1-AMPK−/− (knockout) and wild-type mice were studied 1) under control (room temperature) conditions, 2) during chronic cold exposure (14 days at 4°C), and 3) during acute nonshivering thermogenesis (injection of a β3-adrenergic agonist). Under control conditions, loss of α1-AMPK resulted in downregulation of two important prothermogenic genes in BAT, thyrotropin-releasing hormone (−9.2-fold) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (−8.7-fold). Additionally, it caused significant upregulation of α2-AMPK activity in BAT, white adipose tissue, and liver, but not cardiac or skeletal muscle. During acute nonshivering thermogenesis and chronic cold exposure, body temperature was indistinguishable in the α1-AMPK−/− and wild-type mice. Similarly, the degree of cold-induced hyperphagia was identical in the two groups. We conclude that α1-AMPK does not play an obligatory role in these processes and that adaptations to chronic loss of α1-AMPK are able to compensate for its loss via several mechanisms.


Gut ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. gutjnl-2021-324603
Author(s):  
Laura Krieg ◽  
Konrad Didt ◽  
Isabel Karkossa ◽  
Stephan H Bernhart ◽  
Stephanie Kehr ◽  
...  

ObjectiveHuman white adipose tissue (AT) is a metabolically active organ with distinct depot-specific functions. Despite their locations close to the gastrointestinal tract, mesenteric AT and epiploic AT (epiAT) have only scarcely been investigated. Here, we aim to characterise these ATs in-depth and estimate their contribution to alterations in whole-body metabolism.DesignMesenteric, epiploic, omental and abdominal subcutaneous ATs were collected from 70 patients with obesity undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. The metabolically well-characterised cohort included nine subjects with insulin sensitive (IS) obesity, whose AT samples were analysed in a multiomics approach, including methylome, transcriptome and proteome along with samples from subjects with insulin resistance (IR) matched for age, sex and body mass index (n=9). Findings implying differences between AT depots in these subgroups were validated in the entire cohort (n=70) by quantitative real-time PCR.ResultsWhile mesenteric AT exhibited signatures similar to those found in the omental depot, epiAT was distinct from all other studied fat depots. Multiomics allowed clear discrimination between the IS and IR states in all tissues. The highest discriminatory power between IS and IR was seen in epiAT, where profound differences in the regulation of developmental, metabolic and inflammatory pathways were observed. Gene expression levels of key molecules involved in AT function, metabolic homeostasis and inflammation revealed significant depot-specific differences with epiAT showing the highest expression levels.ConclusionMulti-omics epiAT signatures reflect systemic IR and obesity subphenotypes distinct from other fat depots. Our data suggest a previously unrecognised role of human epiploic fat in the context of obesity, impaired insulin sensitivity and related diseases.


Endocrinology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 150 (2) ◽  
pp. 600-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Glund ◽  
Jonas T. Treebak ◽  
Yun Chau Long ◽  
Romain Barres ◽  
Benoit Viollet ◽  
...  

IL-6 is released from skeletal muscle during exercise and has consequently been implicated to mediate beneficial effects on whole-body metabolism. Using 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-4-ribofuranoside (AICAR), a pharmacological activator of 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), we tested the hypothesis that AMPK modulates IL-6 release from isolated muscle. Skeletal muscle from AMPKα2 kinase-dead transgenic, AMPKα1 knockout (KO) and AMPKγ3 KO mice and respective wild-type littermates was incubated in vitro, in the absence or presence of 2 mmol/liter AICAR. Skeletal muscle from wild-type mice was also incubated with the AMPK activator A-769662. Incubation of mouse glycolytic extensor digitorum longus and oxidative soleus muscle for 2 h was associated with profound IL-6 mRNA production and protein release, which was suppressed by AICAR (P < 0.001). Basal IL-6 release from soleus was increased between AMPKα2 kinase-dead and AMPKα1 KO and their respective wild-type littermates (P < 0.05), suggesting AMPK participates in the regulation of IL-6 release from oxidative muscle. The effect of AICAR on muscle IL-6 release was similar between AMPKα2 KD, AMPKα1 KO, and AMPKγ3 KO mice and their respective wild-type littermates (P < 0.001), indicating AICAR-mediated suppression of IL-6 mRNA expression and protein release is independent of AMPK function. However, IL-6 release from soleus, but not extensor digitorum longus, was reduced 45% by A-769662. Our results on basal and A-769662-mediated IL-6 release provide evidence for a role of AMPK in the regulation of IL-6 release from oxidative skeletal muscle. Furthermore, in addition to activating AMPK, AICAR suppresses IL-6 release by an unknown, AMPK-independent mechanism. Using transgenic and knockout mouse models to perturb AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling, we provide evidence that AMPK-dependent pathways regulate IL-6 release from isolated oxidative skeletal muscle.


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