scholarly journals AMPK Hyper-Activation Alters Fatty Acids Metabolism and Impairs Invasiveness of Trophoblasts in Preeclampsia

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 578-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaotao Yang ◽  
Ping Xu ◽  
Fumei Zhang ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
Yangxi Zheng ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Preeclampsia (PE) has long been assumed to be an ischemic disease of the placenta, although there is limited evidence as to how the ischemia impacts on the placenta. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key regulator of cellular energy metabolism and plays an important role in a variety of ischemic diseases by enhancing energy production. The present study investigated placental metabolism in PE, and the role of AMPK in regulating trophoblast function. Methods: placentas from normal and PE complicated pregnancies were subjected to GC-MS to identify fatty acids (FA) metabolic fingerprints, and total FA oxidation was assessed by malondialdehyde (MDA) measurement. The AMPK-ACC signaling pathway was assessed by q-PCR and Western Blotting. HTR8/SVneo trophoblast cultures were exposed to different oxygenation conditions to establish an in vitro PE cell model; further analysis by GC-MS for metabolite profiling was then undertaken. Trophoblasts invasion was assessed by a matrigel transwell assay in the presence/absence of AMPK expression and after manipulations of AMPK activity, and then further validated by human villi outgrowth experiments. Results: AMPK phosphorylation and MDA production were significantly elevated in placentas from pregnancies complicated by PE. Metabolism of cis double bond FA was inhibited while trans double bond FA metabolism was promoted in PE placentas. HTR8/SVneo cell culture conditions of persistent low oxygenation mimicked the hyper-activation of AMPK and enhanced the FA oxidation that was observed in PE. AMPK activation impaired trophoblast invasion, while AMPK inhibition promoted trophoblast invasion. Conclusion: PE complicated placentas are associated with AMPK hyper-activation and consequent alterations in FA oxidation, which inhibit trophoblast invasion.

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (19) ◽  
pp. 4574
Author(s):  
Mei Chou Lai ◽  
Wayne Young Liu ◽  
Shorong-Shii Liou ◽  
I-Min Liu

Moscatilin can protect rat pheochromocytoma cells against methylglyoxal-induced damage. Elimination of the effect of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) but activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) are the potential therapeutic targets for the neurodegenerative diseases. Our study aimed to clarify AMPK signaling’s role in the beneficial effects of moscatilin on the diabetic/hyperglycemia-associated neurodegenerative disorders. AGEs-induced injury in SH-SY5Y cells was used as an in vitro neurodegenerative model. AGEs stimulation resulted in cellular viability loss and reactive oxygen species production, and mitochondrial membrane potential collapse. It was observed that the cleaved forms of caspase-9, caspase-3, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase increased in SH-SY5Y cells following AGEs exposure. AGEs decreased Bcl-2 but increased Bax and p53 expression and nuclear factor kappa-B activation in SH-SY5Y cells. AGEs also attenuated the phosphorylation level of AMPK. These AGEs-induced detrimental effects were ameliorated by moscatilin, which was similar to the actions of metformin. Compound C, an inhibitor of AMPK, abolished the beneficial effects of moscatilin on the regulation of SH-SY5Y cells’ function, indicating the involvement of AMPK. In conclusion, moscatilin offers a promising therapeutic strategy to reduce the neurotoxicity or AMPK dysfunction of AGEs. It provides a potential beneficial effect with AGEs-related neurodegenerative diseases.


2007 ◽  
Vol 192 (3) ◽  
pp. 605-614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang Cai ◽  
Armen V Gyulkhandanyan ◽  
Michael B Wheeler ◽  
Denise D Belsham

The mammalian hypothalamus comprises an array of phenotypically distinct cell types that interpret peripheral signals of energy status and, in turn, elicits an appropriate response to maintain energy homeostasis. We used a clonal representative hypothalamic cell model expressing proopiomelanocortin (POMC; N-43/5) to study changes in AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity and glucose responsiveness. We have demonstrated the presence of cellular machinery responsible for glucose sensing in the cell line, including glucokinase, glucose transporters, and appropriate ion channels. ATP-sensitive potassium channels were functional and responded to glucose. The N-43/5 POMC neurons may therefore be an appropriate cell model to study glucose-sensing mechanisms in the hypothalamus. In N-43/5 POMC neurons, increasing glucose concentrations decreased phospho-AMPK activity. As a relevant downstream effect, we found that POMC transcription increased with 2.8 and 16.7 mM glucose. Upon addition of leptin, with either no glucose or with 5 mM glucose, we found that leptin decreased AMPK activity in N-43/5 POMC neurons, but had no significant effect at 25 mM glucose, whereas insulin decreased AMPK activity at only 5 mM glucose. These results demonstrate that individual hypothalamic neuronal cell types, such as the POMC neuron, can have distinct responses to peripheral signals that relay energy status to the brain, and will therefore be activated uniquely to control neuroendocrine function.


2005 ◽  
Vol 288 (5) ◽  
pp. H2412-H2421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Frederich ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
James A. Balschi

The hypothesis was tested that hypoxia increases AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity independently of AMP concentration ([AMP]) in heart. In isolated perfused rat hearts, cytosolic [AMP] was changed from 0.2 to 16 μM using metabolic inhibitors during both normal oxygenation (95% O2-5% CO2, normoxia) and limited oxygenation (95% N2-5% CO2, hypoxia). Total AMPK activity measured in vitro ranged from 2 to 40 pmol·min−1·mg protein−1 in normoxic hearts and from 5 to 55 pmol·min−1·mg protein−1 in hypoxic hearts. The dependence of the in vitro total AMPK activity on the in vivo cytosolic [AMP] was determined by fitting the measurements from individual hearts to a hyperbolic equation. The [AMP] resulting in half-maximal total AMPK activity ( A0.5) was 3 ± 1 μM for hypoxic hearts and 28 ± 13 μM for normoxic hearts. The A0.5 for α2-isoform AMPK activity was 2 ± 1 μM for hypoxic hearts and 13 ± 8 μM for normoxic hearts. Total AMPK activity correlated with the phosphorylation of the Thr172 residue of the AMPK α-subunit. In potassium-arrested hearts perfused with variable O2 content, α-subunit Thr172 phosphorylation increased at O2 ≤ 21% even though [AMP] was <0.3 μM. Thus hypoxia or O2 ≤ 21% increased AMPK phosphorylation and activity independently of cytosolic [AMP]. The hypoxic increase in AMPK activity may result from either direct phosphorylation of Thr172 by an upstream kinase or reduction in the A0.5 for [AMP].


2011 ◽  
Vol 212 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Jeyabalan ◽  
M Shah ◽  
B Viollet ◽  
C Chenu

There is increasing evidence that osteoporosis, similarly to obesity and diabetes, could be another disorder of energy metabolism. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has emerged over the last decade as a key sensing mechanism in the regulation of cellular energy homeostasis and is an essential mediator of the central and peripheral effects of many hormones on the metabolism of appetite, fat and glucose. Novel work demonstrates that the AMPK signaling pathway also plays a role in bone physiology. Activation of AMPK promotes bone formationin vitroand the deletion of α or β subunit of AMPK decreases bone mass in mice. Furthermore, AMPK activity in bone cells is regulated by the same hormones that regulate food intake and energy expenditure through AMPK activation in the brain and peripheral tissues. AMPK is also activated by antidiabetic drugs such as metformin and thiazolidinediones (TZDs), which also impact on skeletal metabolism. Interestingly, TZDs have detrimental skeletal side effects, causing bone loss and increasing the risk of fractures, although the role of AMPK mediation is still unclear. These data are presented in this review that also discusses the potential roles of AMPK in bone as well as the possibility for AMPK to be a future therapeutic target for intervention in osteoporosis.


2006 ◽  
Vol 281 (43) ◽  
pp. 32207-32216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianne Suter ◽  
Uwe Riek ◽  
Roland Tuerk ◽  
Uwe Schlattner ◽  
Theo Wallimann ◽  
...  

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a heterotrimeric protein kinase that is crucial for cellular energy homeostasis of eukaryotic cells and organisms. Here we report on the activation of AMPK α1β1γ1 and α2β2γ1 by their upstream kinases (Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase-β and LKB1-MO25α-STRADα), the deactivation by protein phosphatase 2Cα, and on the extent of stimulation of AMPK by its allosteric activator AMP, using purified recombinant enzyme preparations. An accurate high pressure liquid chromatography-based method for AMPK activity measurements was established, which allowed for direct quantitation of the unphosphorylated and phosphorylated artificial peptide substrate, as well as the adenine nucleotides. Our results show a 1000-fold activation of AMPK by the combined effects of upstream kinase and saturating concentrations of AMP. The two AMPK isoforms exhibit similar specific activities (6 μmol/min/mg) and do not differ significantly by their responsiveness to AMP. Due to the inherent instability of ATP and ADP, it proved impossible to assay AMPK activity in the absolute absence of AMP. However, the half-maximal stimulatory effect of AMP is reached below 2 μm. AMP does not appear to augment phosphorylation by upstream kinases in the purified in vitro system, but deactivation by dephosphorylation of AMPK α-subunits at Thr-172 by protein phosphatase 2Cα is attenuated by AMP. Furthermore, it is shown that neither purified NAD+ nor NADH alters the activity of AMPK in a concentration range of 0–300 μm, respectively. Finally, evidence is provided that ZMP, a compound formed in 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-d-ribofuranoside-treated cells to activate AMPK in vivo, allosterically activates purified AMPK in vitro, but compared with AMP, maximal activity is not reached. These data shed new light on physiologically important aspects of AMPK regulation.


2004 ◽  
Vol 287 (5) ◽  
pp. R1270-R1275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asensio A. Gonzalez ◽  
Reetu Kumar ◽  
Jacob D. Mulligan ◽  
Ashley J. Davis ◽  
Kurt W. Saupe

Although a diminished ability of tissues and organisms to tolerate stress is a clinically important hallmark of normal aging, little is known regarding its biochemical basis. Our goal was to determine whether age-associated changes in AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key regulator of cellular metabolism during the stress response, might contribute to the poor stress tolerance of aged cardiac and skeletal muscle. Basal AMPK activity and the degree of activation of AMPK by AMP and by in vivo hypoxemia (arterial Po2 of 39 mmHg) were measured in cardiac and skeletal muscle (gastrocnemius) from 5- and 24-mo-old C57Bl/6 mice. In the heart, neither basal AMPK activity nor its allosteric activation by AMP was affected by age. However, after 10 min of hypoxemia, the activity of α2-AMPK, but not α1-AMPK, was significantly higher in the hearts from old than from young mice ( P < 0.005), this difference being due to differences in phosphorylation of α2-AMPK. Significant activation of AMPK in the young hearts did not occur until 30 min of hypoxemia ( P < 0.01), stress that was poorly tolerated by the old mice (mortality = 67%). In contrast, AMPK activity in gastrocnemius muscle was unaffected by age or hypoxemia. We conclude that the age-associated decline in hypoxic tolerance in cardiac and skeletal muscle is not caused by changes in basal AMPK activity or a blunted AMPK response to hypoxia. Activation of AMPK by in vivo hypoxia is slower and more modest than might be predicted from in vitro and ex vivo experiments.


2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (1) ◽  
pp. C94-C101 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Darwin King ◽  
Adam C. Fitch ◽  
Jeffrey K. Lee ◽  
Jill E. McCane ◽  
Don-On Daniel Mak ◽  
...  

The metabolic sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has emerged as an important link between cellular metabolic status and ion transport activity. We previously found that AMPK binds to and phosphorylates CFTR in vitro and inhibits PKA-dependent stimulation of CFTR channel gating in Calu-3 bronchial serous gland epithelial cells. To further characterize the mechanism of AMPK-dependent regulation of CFTR, whole cell patch-clamp measurements were performed with PKA activation in Calu-3 cells expressing either constitutively active or dominant-negative AMPK mutants (AMPK-CA or AMPK-DN). Baseline CFTR conductance in cells expressing AMPK-DN was substantially greater than controls, suggesting that tonic AMPK activity in these cells inhibits CFTR under basal conditions. Although baseline CFTR conductance in cells expressing AMPK-CA was comparable to that of controls, PKA stimulation of CFTR was completely blocked in AMPK-CA-expressing cells, suggesting that AMPK activation renders CFTR resistant to PKA activation in vivo. Phosphorylation studies of CFTR in human embryonic kidney-293 cells using tetracycline-inducible expression of AMPK-DN demonstrated AMPK-dependent phosphorylation of CFTR in vivo. However, AMPK activity modulation had no effect on CFTR in vivo phosphorylation in response to graded doses of PKA or PKC agonists. Thus, AMPK-dependent CFTR phosphorylation renders the channel resistant to activation by PKA and PKC without preventing phosphorylation by these kinases. We found that Ser768, a CFTR R domain residue considered to be an inhibitory PKA site, is the dominant site of AMPK phosphorylation in vitro. Ser-to-Ala mutation at this site enhanced baseline CFTR activity and rendered CFTR resistant to inhibition by AMPK, suggesting that AMPK phosphorylation at Ser768 is required for its inhibition of CFTR. In summary, our findings indicate that AMPK-dependent phosphorylation of CFTR inhibits CFTR activation by PKA, thereby tuning the PKA-responsiveness of CFTR to metabolic and other stresses in the cell.


Author(s):  
Emilie Gontran ◽  
Lorena Loarca ◽  
Cyrille El Khassis ◽  
Latifa Bouzhir ◽  
Dmitry Ayollo ◽  
...  

Background &amp; Aims: Globally, liver diseases account for 2 million deaths per year. For those with advanced liver disease the only curative approach is liver transplantation. However, less than 10% of those in need get a liver transplant due to limited organ availability. To circumvent this challenge, there has been a great focus in generating a bioengineered liver. Despite its essential role in liver functions, a functional biliary system has not yet been developed. In this framework, exploration of epithelial cell self-organogenesis and microengineering-driven geometrical cell confinement allow to envision the bioengineering of a functional biomimetic intrahepatic biliary tract. Approach: Three-dimensional (3D) bile ducts were built in vitro by restricting cell adhesion to two-dimensional (2D) patterns to guide cell self-organization. Tree shapes mimicking the configuration of the human biliary system were micropatterned on glass slides, restricting cell attachment to these areas. Different tree geometries and culture conditions were explored to stimulate self-organogenesis of normal rat cholangiocytes (NRCs) used as a biliary cell model, either alone or in coculture with human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs). Results: Pre-seeding the micropatterns with HUVECs promoted luminogenesis with higher efficiency to yield functional branched biliary tubes. Lumen formation, apico-basal polarity, and preservation of the cholangiocyte phenotype were confirmed. Moreover, intact and functional biliary structures were detached from the micropatterns for further manipulation. Conclusion: This study presents physiologically relevant 3D biliary duct networks built in vitro from 2D micropatterns. This opens opportunities for investigating bile duct organogenesis, physiopathology, and drug testing.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 2910 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mostafa Kiamehr ◽  
Laura Heiskanen ◽  
Thomas Laufer ◽  
Aneta Düsterloh ◽  
Mustafa Kahraman ◽  
...  

Aim: Primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) undergo dedifferentiation upon the two-dimensional (2D) culture, which particularly hinders their utility in long-term in vitro studies. Lipids, as a major class of biomolecules, play crucial roles in cellular energy storage, structure, and signaling. Here, for the first time, we mapped the alterations in the lipid profile of the dedifferentiating PHHs and studied the possible role of lipids in the loss of the phenotype of PHHs. Simultaneously, differentially expressed miRNAs associated with changes in the lipids and fatty acids (FAs) of the dedifferentiating PHHs were investigated. Methods: PHHs were cultured in monolayer and their phenotype was monitored morphologically, genetically, and biochemically for five days. The lipid and miRNA profile of the PHHs were analyzed by mass spectrometry and Agilent microarray, respectively. In addition, 24 key genes involved in the metabolism of lipids and FAs were investigated by qPCR. Results: The typical morphology of PHHs was lost from day 3 onward. Additionally, ALB and CYP genes were downregulated in the cultured PHHs. Lipidomics revealed a clear increase in the saturated fatty acids (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) containing lipids, but a decrease in the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) containing lipids during the dedifferentiation of PHHs. In line with this, FASN, SCD, ELOVL1, ELOVL3, and ELOVL7 were upregulated but ELOVL2 was downregulated in the dedifferentiated PHHs. Furthermore, differentially expressed miRNAs were identified, and the constantly upregulated miR-27a and miR-21, and downregulated miR-30 may have regulated the synthesis, accumulation and secretion of PHH lipids during the dedifferentiation. Conclusion: Our results showed major alterations in the molecular lipid species profiles, lipid-metabolizing enzyme expression as wells as miRNA profiles of the PHHs during their prolonged culture, which in concert could play important roles in the PHHs’ loss of phenotype. These findings promote the understanding from the dedifferentiation process and could help in developing optimal culture conditions, which better meet the needs of the PHHs and support their original phenotype.


2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 463-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uliana De Simone ◽  
Francesca Caloni ◽  
Laura Gribaldo ◽  
Teresa Coccini

Alternative methods and their use in planning and conducting toxicology experiments have become essential for modern toxicologists, thus reducing or replacing living animals. Although in vitro human co-culture models allow the establishment of biologically relevant cell–cell interactions that recapitulate the tissue microenvironment and better mimic its physiology, the number of publications is limited specifically addressing this scientific area and utilizing this test method which could provide an additional valuable model in toxicological studies. In the present study, an in vitro model based on central nervous system (CNS) cell co-cultures was implemented using a transwell system combining human neuronal cells (SH-SY5Y cell line) and glial cells, namely astrocytes (D384 cell line), to investigate neuroprotection of D384 on SH-SY5Y and vice versa. The model was applied to test acute (24-48 hours) cytotoxicity of 3 different neurotoxicants: (1) methyl mercury (1-2.5 μM), (2) Fe3O4 nanoparticles (1-100 μg/mL), and (3) methylglyoxal (0.5-1 mM). Data were compared to mono-cultures evaluating the mitochondrial function and cell morphology. The results clearly showed that all compounds tested affected the mitochondrial activity and cell morphology in both mono-culture and co-culture conditions. However, astrocytes, when cultured together with neurons, diminish the neurotoxicant-induced cytotoxic effects that occurred in neurons cultured alone, and astrocytes become more resistant in the presence of neurons. This human CNS co-culture system seems a suitable cell model to feed high-throughput acute screening platforms and to evaluate both human neuronal and astrocytic toxicity and neuroprotective effects of new and emerging materials (eg, nanomaterials) and new products with improved sensitivity due to the functional neuron–astrocyte metabolic interactions.


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