Role of PFKFB3-driven glycolysis in vessel sprouting.

Vessel sprouting by migrating tip and proliferating stalk endothelial cells (ECs) is controlled by genetic signals (such as Notch), but it is unknown whether metabolism also regulates this process. Here, we show that ECs relied on glycolysis rather than on oxidative phosphorylation for ATP production and that loss of the glycolytic activator PFKFB3 in ECs impaired vessel formation. Mechanistically, PFKFB3 not only regulated EC proliferation but also controlled the formation of filopodia/lamellipodia and directional migration, in part by compartmentalizing with F-actin in motile protrusions. Mosaic in vitro and in vivo sprouting assays further revealed that PFKFB3 overexpression overruled the pro-stalk activity of Notch, whereas PFKFB3 deficiency impaired tip cell formation upon Notch blockade, implying that glycolysis regulates vessel branching.

TLR9 and beclin 1 crosstalk regulates muscle AMPK activation in exercise.

The activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in skeletal muscle coordinates systemic metabolic responses to exercise1. Autophagy-a lysosomal degradation pathway that maintains cellular homeostasis2-is upregulated during exercise, and a core autophagy protein, beclin 1, is required for AMPK activation in skeletal muscle3. Here we describe a role for the innate immune-sensing molecule Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9)4, and its interaction with beclin 1, in exercise-induced activation of AMPK in skeletal muscle. Mice that lack TLR9 are deficient in both exercise-induced activation of AMPK and plasma membrane localization of the GLUT4 glucose transporter in skeletal muscle, but are not deficient in autophagy. TLR9 binds beclin 1, and this interaction is increased by energy stress (glucose starvation and endurance exercise) and decreased by a BCL2 mutation3,5 that blocks the disruption of BCL2-beclin 1 binding. TLR9 regulates the assembly of the endolysosomal phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex (PI3KC3-C2)-which contains beclin 1 and UVRAG-in skeletal muscle during exercise, and knockout of beclin 1 or UVRAG inhibits the cellular AMPK activation induced by glucose starvation. Moreover, TLR9 functions in a muscle-autonomous fashion in ex vivo contraction-induced AMPK activation, glucose uptake and beclin 1-UVRAG complex assembly. These findings reveal a heretofore undescribed role for a Toll-like receptor in skeletal-muscle AMPK activation and glucose metabolism during exercise, as well as unexpected crosstalk between this innate immune sensor and autophagy proteins.

AMPK inhibits liver gluconeogenesis: fact or fiction?

Is there a role for AMPK in the control of hepatic gluconeogenesis and could targeting AMPK in liver be a viable strategy for treating type 2 diabetes? These are frequently asked questions this review tries to answer. After describing properties of AMPK and different small-molecule AMPK activators, we briefly review the various mechanisms for controlling hepatic glucose production, mainly via gluconeogenesis. The different experimental and genetic models that have been used to draw conclusions about the role of AMPK in the control of liver gluconeogenesis are critically discussed. The effects of several anti-diabetic drugs, particularly metformin, on hepatic gluconeogenesis are also considered. We conclude that the main effect of AMPK activation pertinent to the control of hepatic gluconeogenesis is to antagonize glucagon signalling in the short-term and, in the long-term, to improve insulin sensitivity by reducing hepatic lipid content.

Inhibition of basal and glucagon-induced hepatic glucose production by 991 and other pharmacological AMPK activators.

Pharmacological AMPK activation represents an attractive approach for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D). AMPK activation increases skeletal muscle glucose uptake, but there is controversy as to whether AMPK activation also inhibits hepatic glucose production (HGP) and pharmacological AMPK activators can have off-target effects that contribute to their anti-diabetic properties. The main aim was to investigate the effects of 991 and other direct AMPK activators on HGP and determine whether the observed effects were AMPK-dependent. In incubated hepatocytes, 991 substantially decreased gluconeogenesis from lactate, pyruvate and glycerol, but not from other substrates. Hepatocytes from AMPKß1-/- mice had substantially reduced liver AMPK activity, yet the inhibition of glucose production by 991 persisted. Also, the glucose-lowering effect of 991 was still seen in AMPKß1-/- mice subjected to an intraperitoneal pyruvate tolerance test. The AMPK-independent mechanism by which 991 treatment decreased gluconeogenesis could be explained by inhibition of mitochondrial pyruvate uptake and inhibition of mitochondrial sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase-2. However, 991 and new-generation direct small-molecule AMPK activators antagonized glucagon-induced gluconeogenesis in an AMPK-dependent manner. Our studies support the notion that direct pharmacological activation of hepatic AMPK as well as inhibition of pyruvate uptake could be an option for the treatment of T2D-linked hyperglycemia.

Comparison of short-term outcomes between people with and without a pre-morbid mental health diagnosis following surgery for traumatic hand injury: a prospective longitudinal study of a multicultural cohort.

BACKGROUND: Following traumatic hand injury, few studies have compared outcomes between people with and without a pre-morbid mental health diagnosis. This study aimed to compare sub-acute outcomes in a multicultural patient cohort with surgically managed traumatic hand injury with and without a pre-morbid mental health diagnosis. METHODS: A prospective, observational cohort study of people with traumatic hand injury presenting pre- surgically to a high-volume hand injury centre in a region of cultural and language diversity was conducted. Participants were assessed face-to-face (baseline) then via telephone (3-months post-surgery) and categorized according to a pre-morbid medically diagnosed mental health diagnosis. Baseline and follow-up assessments included global mental health, and the EuroQol (EQ) 'Health Today' analogue scale (0-100) and health domains. Return-to-work status, complications/symptomatic complaints, and hand function (QuickDASH) were also collected at follow-up. Adjusted analyses-accounting for covariates including cultural identity-were conducted to determine whether 3-month outcomes were associated with a pre-morbid mental health diagnosis. RESULTS: From 405 eligible patients, 386 were enrolled (76% male, mean age 38.9 (standard deviation 15.6)); 57% self-identified as Australian and 22% had a pre-morbid mental health diagnosis. Common injuries regardless of pre-morbid mental health diagnosis were skin (40%), tendon (17%) and bone (17%) injuries. None were complex mutilating injuries. Seventy-eight per cent of the cohort was followed-up. In adjusted analyses, a pre-morbid mental health diagnosis was associated with lower odds for reporting 'good or better' global mental health (Odds Ratio (OR) 0.23 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.18, 0.47), p < 0.001), 'no' anxiety or depression (OR 0.21 (0.11, 0.40), p < 0.001) and no pain (OR 0.56 (0.31, 0.98), p = 0.04)(EQ domains), and worse EQ 'Health Today' (10 points on average (95%CI -14.9, -5.1, p < 0.001). QuickDASH scores, rates of complications/symptomatic complaints and return-to-work profiles were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Despite reporting worse mental and health-related quality-of-life outcomes post-surgery, people with a pre-morbid mental health diagnosis regardless of cultural identity experienced similar clinical and return-to-work outcomes. Future research assessing the value of screening for pre-morbid mental health conditions on post-surgical outcomes is required and should include people with more complex hand injuries.

AMPK activation by SC4 inhibits noradrenaline-induced lipolysis and insulin-stimulated lipogenesis in white adipose tissue.

The effects of small-molecule AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activators in rat epididymal adipocytes were compared. SC4 was the most effective and submaximal doses of SC4 and 5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide (AICA) riboside were combined to study the effects of AMPK activation in white adipose tissue (WAT). Incubation of rat adipocytes with SC4 + AICA riboside inhibited noradrenaline-induced lipolysis and decreased hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) Ser563 phosphorylation, without affecting HSL Ser565 phosphorylation. Preincubation of fat pads from wild-type (WT) mice with SC4 + AICA riboside inhibited insulin-stimulated lipogenesis from glucose or acetate and these effects were lost in AMPKα1 knockout (KO) mice, indicating AMPKα1 dependency. Moreover, in fat pads from acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC)1/2 S79A/S212A double knockin versus WT mice, the effect of SC4 + AICA riboside to inhibit insulin-stimulated lipogenesis from acetate was lost, pinpointing ACC as the main AMPK target. Treatment with SC4 + AICA riboside decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, an effect that was still observed in fat pads from AMPKα1 KO versus WT mice, suggesting the effect was partly AMPKα1-independent. SC4 + AICA riboside treatment had no effect on the insulin-induced increase in palmitate esterification nor on sn-glycerol-3-phosphate-O-acyltransferase activity. Therefore in WAT, AMPK activation inhibits noradrenaline-induced lipolysis and suppresses insulin-stimulated lipogenesis primarily by inactivating ACC and by inhibiting glucose uptake.

Effects of PKB/Akt inhibitors on insulin-stimulated lipogenesis and phosphorylation state of lipogenic enzymes in white adipose tissue.

We investigated acute effects of two allosteric protein kinase B (PKB) inhibitors, MK-2206 and Akti-1/2, on insulin-stimulated lipogenesis in rat epididymal adipocytes incubated with fructose as carbohydrate substrate. In parallel, the phosphorylation state of lipogenic enzymes in adipocytes and incubated epididymal fat pads was monitored by immunoblotting. Preincubation of rat epididymal adipocytes with PKB inhibitors dose-dependently inhibited the following: insulin-stimulated lipogenesis, increased PKB Ser473 phosphorylation, increased PKB activity and decreased acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) Ser79 phosphorylation. In contrast, the effect of insulin to decrease the phosphorylation of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) at Ser293 and Ser300 was not abolished by PKB inhibition. Insulin treatment also induced ATP-citrate lyase (ACL) Ser454 phosphorylation, but this effect was less sensitive to PKB inhibitors than ACC dephosphorylation by insulin. In incubated rat epididymal fat pads, Akti-1/2 treatment reversed insulin-induced ACC dephosphorylation, while ACL phosphorylation by insulin was maintained. ACL and ACC purified from white adipose tissue were poor substrates for PKBα in vitro. However, effects of wortmannin and torin, along with Akti-1/2 and MK-2206, on recognized PKB target phosphorylation by insulin were similar to their effects on insulin-induced ACL phosphorylation, suggesting that PKB could be the physiological kinase for ACL phosphorylation by insulin. In incubated epididymal fat pads from wild-type versus ACC1/2 S79A/S212A knockin mice, effects of insulin to increase lipogenesis from radioactive fructose or from radioactive acetate were reduced but not abolished. Together, the results support a key role for PKB in mediating insulin-stimulated lipogenesis by decreasing ACC phosphorylation, but not by decreasing PDH phosphorylation.

Inhibition of AMPK activity in response to insulin in adipocytes: involvement of AMPK pS485, PDEs, and cellular energy levels.

Insulin resistance in obesity and type 2 diabetes has been shown to be associated with decreased de novo fatty acid (FA) synthesis in adipose tissue. It is known that insulin can acutely stimulate FA synthesis in adipocytes; however, the mechanisms underlying this effect are unclear. The rate-limiting step in FA synthesis is catalyzed by acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), known to be regulated through inhibitory phosphorylation at S79 by the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Previous results from our laboratory showed an inhibition of AMPK activity by insulin, which was accompanied by PKB-dependent phosphorylation of AMPK at S485. However, whether the S485 phosphorylation is required for insulin-induced inhibition of AMPK or other mechanisms underlie the reduced kinase activity is not known. To investigate this, primary rat adipocytes were transduced with a recombinant adenovirus encoding AMPK-WT or a nonphosphorylatable AMPK S485A mutant. AMPK activity measurements by Western blot analysis and in vitro kinase assay revealed that WT and S485A AMPK were inhibited to a similar degree by insulin, indicating that AMPK S485 phosphorylation is not required for insulin-induced AMPK inhibition. Further analysis suggested an involvement of decreased AMP-to-ATP ratios in the insulin-induced inhibition of AMPK activity, whereas a possible contribution of phosphodiesterases was excluded. Furthermore, we show that insulin-induced AMPK S485 phosphorylation also occurs in human adipocytes, suggesting it to be of an importance yet to be revealed. Altogether, this study increases our understanding of how insulin regulates AMPK activity, and with that, FA synthesis, in adipose tissue.

The synthesis of branched-chain fatty acids is limited by enzymatic decarboxylation of ethyl- and methylmalonyl-CoA.

Most fatty acids (FAs) are straight chains and are synthesized by fatty acid synthase (FASN) using acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA units. Yet, FASN is known to be promiscuous as it may use methylmalonyl-CoA instead of malonyl-CoA and thereby introduce methyl-branches. We have recently found that the cytosolic enzyme ECHDC1 degrades ethylmalonyl-CoA and methylmalonyl-CoA, which presumably result from promiscuous reactions catalyzed by acetyl-CoA carboxylase on butyryl- and propionyl-CoA. Here, we tested the hypothesis that ECHDC1 is a metabolite repair enzyme that serves to prevent the formation of methyl- or ethyl-branched FAs by FASN. Using the purified enzyme, we found that FASN can incorporate not only methylmalonyl-CoA but also ethylmalonyl-CoA, producing methyl- or ethyl-branched FAs. Using a combination of gas-chromatography and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, we observed that inactivation of ECHDC1 in adipocytes led to an increase in several methyl-branched FAs (present in different lipid classes), while its overexpression reduced them below wild-type levels. In contrast, the formation of ethyl-branched FAs was observed almost exclusively in ECHDC1 knockout cells, indicating that ECHDC1 and the low activity of FASN toward ethylmalonyl-CoA efficiently prevent their formation. We conclude that ECHDC1 performs a typical metabolite repair function by destroying methyl- and ethylmalonyl-CoA. This reduces the formation of methyl-branched FAs and prevents the formation of ethyl-branched FAs by FASN. The identification of ECHDC1 as a key modulator of the abundance of methyl-branched FAs opens the way to investigate their function.

Two isoprenylated flavonoids from Dorstenia psilurus activate AMPK, stimulate glucose uptake, inhibit glucose production and lower glycemia.

Root extracts of a Cameroon medicinal plant, Dorstenia psilurus, were purified by screening for AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in incubated mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs). Two isoprenylated flavones that activated AMPK were isolated. Compound 1 was identified as artelasticin by high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and 2D-NMR while its structural isomer, compound 2, was isolated for the first time and differed only by the position of one double bond on one isoprenyl substituent. Treatment of MEFs with purified compound 1 or compound 2 led to rapid and robust AMPK activation at low micromolar concentrations and increased the intracellular AMP:ATP ratio. In oxygen consumption experiments on isolated rat liver mitochondria, compound 1 and compound 2 inhibited complex II of the electron transport chain and in freeze-thawed mitochondria succinate dehydrogenase was inhibited. In incubated rat skeletal muscles, both compounds activated AMPK and stimulated glucose uptake. Moreover, these effects were lost in muscles pre-incubated with AMPK inhibitor SBI-0206965, suggesting AMPK dependency. Incubation of mouse hepatocytes with compound 1 or compound 2 led to AMPK activation, but glucose production was decreased in hepatocytes from both wild-type and AMPKß1-/- mice, suggesting that this effect was not AMPK-dependent. However, when administered intraperitoneally to high-fat diet-induced insulin-resistant mice, compound 1 and compound 2 had blood glucose-lowering effects. In addition, compound 1 and compound 2 reduced the viability of several human cancer cells in culture. The flavonoids we have identified could be a starting point for the development of new drugs to treat type 2 diabetes.

Genetic deletion of soluble 5'-nucleotidase II reduces body weight gain and insulin resistance induced by a high-fat diet.

We previously investigated whether inhibition of AMP-metabolizing enzymes could enhance AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in skeletal muscle for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Soluble 5'-nucleotidase II (NT5C2) hydrolyzes IMP and its inhibition could potentially lead to a rise in AMP to activate AMPK. In the present study, we investigated effects of NT5C2 deletion in mice fed a normal-chow diet (NCD) or a high-fat diet (HFD). On a NCD, NT5C2 deletion did not result in any striking metabolic phenotype. On a HFD however, NT5C2 knockout (NT5C2-/-) mice displayed reduced body/fat weight gain, improved glucose tolerance, reduced plasma insulin, triglyceride and uric acid levels compared with wild-type (WT) mice. There was a tendency towards smaller and fewer adipocytes in epididymal fat from NT5C2-/- mice compared to WT mice, consistent with a reduction in triglyceride content. Differences in fat mass under HFD could not be explained by changes in mRNA expression profiles of epididymal fat from WT versus NT5C2-/- mice. However, rates of lipolysis tended to increase in epididymal fat pads from NT5C2-/- versus WT mice, which might explain reduced fat mass. In incubated skeletal muscles, insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and associated signalling were enhanced in NT5C2-/- versus WT mice on HFD, which might contribute towards improved glycemic control. In summary, NT5C2 deletion in mice protects against HFD-induced weight gain, adiposity, insulin resistance and associated hyperglycemia.

A conserved phosphatase destroys toxic glycolytic side products in mammals and yeast.

Metabolic enzymes are very specific. However, most of them show weak side activities toward compounds that are structurally related to their physiological substrates, thereby producing side products that may be toxic. In some cases, 'metabolite repair enzymes' eliminating side products have been identified. We show that mammalian glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase and pyruvate kinase, two core glycolytic enzymes, produce 4-phosphoerythronate and 2-phospho-L-lactate, respectively. 4-Phosphoerythronate strongly inhibits an enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway, whereas 2-phospho-L-lactate inhibits the enzyme producing the glycolytic activator fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. We discovered that a single, widely conserved enzyme, known as phosphoglycolate phosphatase (PGP) in mammals, dephosphorylates both 4-phosphoerythronate and 2-phospho-L-lactate, thereby preventing a block in the pentose phosphate pathway and glycolysis. Its yeast ortholog, Pho13, similarly dephosphorylates 4-phosphoerythronate and 2-phosphoglycolate, a side product of pyruvate kinase. Our work illustrates how metabolite repair enzymes can make up for the limited specificity of metabolic enzymes and permit high flux in central metabolic pathways.

Chromatin recruitment of activated AMPK drives fasting response genes co-controlled by GR and PPARα.

Adaptation to fasting involves both Glucocorticoid Receptor (GRα) and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor α (PPARα) activation. Given both receptors can physically interact we investigated the possibility of a genome-wide cross-talk between activated GR and PPARα, using ChIP- and RNA-seq in primary hepatocytes. Our data reveal extensive chromatin co-localization of both factors with cooperative induction of genes controlling lipid/glucose metabolism. Key GR/PPAR co-controlled genes switched from transcriptional antagonism to cooperativity when moving from short to prolonged hepatocyte fasting, a phenomenon coinciding with gene promoter recruitment of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and blocked by its pharmacological inhibition. In vitro interaction studies support trimeric complex formation between GR, PPARα and phospho-AMPK. Long-term fasting in mice showed enhanced phosphorylation of liver AMPK and GRα Ser211. Phospho-AMPK chromatin recruitment at liver target genes, observed upon prolonged fasting in mice, is dampened by refeeding. Taken together, our results identify phospho-AMPK as a molecular switch able to cooperate with nuclear receptors at the chromatin level and reveal a novel adaptation mechanism to prolonged fasting.

Changes in the phosphoproteome of brown adipose tissue during hibernation in the ground squirrel, Ictidomys tridecemlineatus.

Mammalian hibernation is characterized by metabolic rate depression and a strong decrease in core body temperature that together create energy savings such that most species do not have to eat over the winter months. Brown adipose tissue (BAT), a thermogenic tissue that uses uncoupled mitochondrial respiration to generate heat instead of ATP, plays a major role in rewarming from deep torpor. In the present study we developed a label-free liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) strategy to investigate both differential protein expression and protein phosphorylation in BAT extracts from euthermic vs. hibernating ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus). In particular, we incorporated the filter-assisted sample preparation protocol, which provides a more in-depth analysis compared with gel-based and other LC-MS proteomics approaches. Surprisingly, mitochondrial membrane and matrix protein expression in BAT was largely constant between active euthermic squirrels and their hibernating counterparts. Validation by immunoblotting confirmed that the protein levels of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes were largely unchanged in hibernating vs. euthermic animals. On the other hand, phosphoproteomics revealed that pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) phosphorylation increased during squirrel hibernation, confirmed by immunoblotting with phospho-specific antibodies. PDH phosphorylation leads to its inactivation, which suggests that BAT carbohydrate oxidation is inhibited during hibernation. Phosphorylation of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) was also found to increase during hibernation, suggesting that HSL would be active in BAT to produce the fatty acids that are likely the primary fuel for thermogenesis upon arousal. Increased perilipin phosphorylation along with that of a number of other proteins was also revealed, emphasizing the importance of protein phosphorylation as a regulatory mechanism during mammalian hibernation.

Effects of genetic deletion of soluble 5'-nucleotidases NT5C1A and NT5C2 on AMPK activation and nucleotide levels in contracting mouse skeletal muscles.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a key role in energy homeostasis and is activated in response to contraction-induced ATP depletion in skeletal muscle via a rise in intracellular AMP/ADP concentrations. AMP can be deaminated by AMP-deaminase (AMPD) to IMP, which is hydrolyzed to inosine by cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase II (NT5C2). AMP can also be hydrolyzed to adenosine by cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase 1A (NT5C1A). Previous gene silencing and overexpression studies indicated control of AMPK activation by NT5C enzymes. In the present study using gene knockout mouse models, we investigated the effects of NT5C1A and NT5C2 deletion on intracellular adenine nucleotide levels and AMPK activation in electrically stimulated skeletal muscles. Surprisingly, NT5C enzyme knockout did not lead to enhanced AMP or ADP concentrations in response to contraction, with no potentiation of increases in AMPK activity in extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus mouse muscles. Moreover, dual blockade of AMP metabolism in EDL using an AMPD inhibitor combined with NT5C1A deletion did not enhance rises in AMP and ADP or increased AMPK activation by electrical stimulation. The results on muscles from the NT5C knockout mice contradict previous findings where AMP levels and AMPK activity were shown to be modulated by NT5C enzymes.

Benzimidazole derivative small-molecule 991 enhances AMPK activity and glucose uptake induced by AICAR or contraction in skeletal muscle.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays diverse roles and coordinates complex metabolic pathways for maintenance of energy homeostasis. This could be explained by the fact that AMPK exists as multiple heterotrimer complexes comprising a catalytic α-subunit (α1 and α2) and regulatory ß (ß1 and ß2)- and γ (γ1, γ2, γ3)-subunits, which are uniquely distributed across different cell types. There has been keen interest in developing specific and isoform-selective AMPK-activating drugs for therapeutic use and also as research tools. Moreover, establishing ways of enhancing cellular AMPK activity would be beneficial for both purposes. Here, we investigated if a recently described potent AMPK activator called 991, in combination with the commonly used activator 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside or contraction, further enhances AMPK activity and glucose transport in mouse skeletal muscle ex vivo. Given that the γ3-subunit is exclusively expressed in skeletal muscle and has been implicated in contraction-induced glucose transport, we measured the activity of AMPKγ3 as well as ubiquitously expressed γ1-containing complexes. We initially validated the specificity of the antibodies for the assessment of isoform-specific AMPK activity using AMPK-deficient mouse models. We observed that a low dose of 991 (5 µM) stimulated a modest or negligible activity of both γ1- and γ3-containing AMPK complexes. Strikingly, dual treatment with 991 and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside or 991 and contraction profoundly enhanced AMPKγ1/γ3 complex activation and glucose transport compared with any of the single treatments. The study demonstrates the utility of a dual activator approach to achieve a greater activation of AMPK and downstream physiological responses in various cell types, including skeletal muscle.

A small-molecule benzimidazole derivative that potently activates AMPK to increase glucose transport in skeletal muscle: comparison with effects of contraction and other AMPK activators.

AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) is an attractive therapeutic drug target for treating metabolic disorders. We studied the effects of an AMPK activator developed by Merck (ex229 from patent application WO2010036613), comparing chemical activation with contraction in intact incubated skeletal muscles. We also compared effects of ex229 with those of the Abbott A769662 compound and AICAR (5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide riboside). In rat epitrochlearis muscle, ex229 dose-dependently increased AMPK activity of α1-, α2-, ß1- and ß2-containing complexes with significant increases in AMPK activity seen at a concentration of 50 µM. At a concentration of 100 µM, AMPK activation was similar to that observed after contraction and importantly led to an ~2-fold increase in glucose uptake. In AMPK α1-/α2-catalytic subunit double-knockout myotubes incubated with ex229, the increases in glucose uptake and ACC (acetyl-CoA carboxylase) phosphorylation seen in control cells were completely abolished, suggesting that the effects of the compound were AMPK-dependent. When muscle glycogen levels were reduced by ~50% after starvation, ex229-induced AMPK activation and glucose uptake were amplified in a wortmannin-independent manner. In L6 myotubes incubated with ex229, fatty acid oxidation was increased. Furthermore, in mouse EDL (extensor digitorum longus) and soleus muscles, ex229 increased both AMPK activity and glucose uptake at least 2-fold. In summary, ex229 efficiently activated skeletal muscle AMPK and elicited metabolic effects in muscle appropriate for treating Type 2 diabetes by stimulating glucose uptake and increasing fatty acid oxidation.

Differential regulation of eEF2 and p70S6K by AMPKalpha2 in heart.

Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF-2) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) signaling pathways control protein synthesis and are inhibited during myocardial ischemia. Intracellular acidosis and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation, both occurring during ischemia, have been proposed to participate in this inhibition. We evaluated the contribution of AMPKα2, the main cardiac AMPK catalytic subunit isoform, in eEF2 and mTOR-p70S6K regulation using AMPKα2 KO mice. Hearts were perfused ex vivo with or without insulin, and then submitted or not to ischemia. Insulin pre-incubation was necessary to activate mTOR-p70S6K and evaluate their subsequent inhibition by ischemia. Ischemia decreased insulin-induced mTOR-p70S6K phosphorylation in WT and AMPKα2 KO mice to a similar extent. This AMPKα2-independent p70S6K inhibition correlated well with the inhibition of PKB/Akt, located upstream of mTOR-p70S6K and can be mimicked in cardiomyocytes by decreasing pH. By contrast, ischemia-induced inhibitory phosphorylation of eEF-2 was drastically reduced in AMPKα2 KO mice. Interestingly, AMPKα2 also played a role under normoxia. Its deletion increased the insulin-induced p70S6K stimulation. This p70S6K over-stimulation was associated with a decrease in inhibitory phosphorylation of Raptor, an mTOR partner identified as an AMPK target. In conclusion, AMPKα2 controls cardiac p70S6K under normoxia and regulates eEF-2 but not the mTOR-p70S6K pathway during ischemia. This challenges the accepted notion that mTOR-p70S6K is inhibited by myocardial ischemia mainly via an AMPK-dependent mechanism.

PFKFB3 activation in cancer cells by the p38/MK2 pathway in response to stress stimuli.

PFK-2/FBPase-2 (6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase) catalyses the synthesis and degradation of Fru-2,6-P2 (fructose 2,6-bisphosphate), a key modulator of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. The PFKFB3 gene is involved in cell proliferation owing to its role in carbohydrate metabolism. In the present study we analysed the mechanism of regulation of PFKFB3 as an immediate early gene controlled by stress stimuli that activates the p38/MK2 [MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)-activated protein kinase 2] pathway. We report that exposure of HeLa and T98G cells to different stress stimuli (NaCl, H2O2, UV radiation and anisomycin) leads to a rapid increase (15-30 min) in PFKFB3 mRNA levels. The use of specific inhibitors in combination with MK2-deficient cells implicate control by the protein kinase MK2. Transient transfection of HeLa cells with deleted gene promoter constructs allowed us to identify an SRE (serum-response element) to which SRF (serum-response factor) binds and thus transactivates PFKFB3 gene transcription. Direct binding of phospho-SRF to the SRE sequence (-918 nt) was confirmed by ChIP (chromatin immunoprecipiation) assays. Moreover, PFKFB3 isoenzyme phosphorylation at Ser461 by MK2 increases PFK-2 activity. Taken together, the results of the present study suggest a multimodal mechanism of stress stimuli affecting PFKFB3 transcriptional regulation and kinase activation by protein phosphorylation, resulting in an increase in Fru-2,6-P2 concentration and stimulation of glycolysis in cancer cells.