In Vitro Anti-Echinococcal and Metabolic Effects of Metformin Involve Activation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase in Larval Stages of Echinococcus granulosus

Abstract Background Echinococcosis, which is caused by the larvae of cestodes of the genus Echinococcus, is a parasitic zoonosis that poses a serious threat to the health of humans and animals globally. Albendazole is the drug of choice for the treatment of echinococcosis, but it is difficult to meet clinical goals with this chemotherapy due to its low cure rate and associated side effects after its long-term use. Hence, novel anti-parasitic targets and effective treatment alternatives are urgently needed. A previous study showed that verapamil (Vepm) can suppress the growth of Echinococcus granulosus larvae; however, the mechanism of this effect remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to gain insight into the anti-echinococcal effect of Vepm on Echinococcus with a particular focus on the regulatory effect of Vepm on calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (Ca2+/CaM-CaMKII) in infected mice. Methods The anti-echinococcal effects of Vepm on Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces (PSC) in vitro and Echinococcus multilocularis metacestodes in infected mice were assessed. The morphological alterations in Echinococcus spp. induced by Vepm were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the changes in calcium content in both the parasite and mouse serum and liver were measured by SEM-energy dispersive spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and alizarin red staining. Additionally, the changes in the protein and mRNA levels of CaM and CaMKII in infected mice, and in the mRNA levels of CaMKII in E. granulosus PSC, were evaluated after treatment with Vepm by immunohistochemistry and/or real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results In vitro, E. granulosus PSC could be killed by Vepm at a concentration of 0.5 μg/ml or higher within 8 days. Under these conditions, the ultrastructure of PSC was damaged, and this damage was accompanied by obvious calcium loss and downregulation of CaMKII mRNA expression. In vivo, the weight and the calcium content of E. multilocularis metacestodes from mice were reduced after treatment with 40 mg/kg Vepm, and an elevation of the calcium content in the sera and livers of infected mice was observed. In addition, downregulation of CaM and CaMKII protein and mRNA expression in the livers of mice infected with E. multilocularis metacestodes was found after treatment with Vepm. Conclusions Vepm exerted a parasiticidal effect against Echinococcus both in vitro and in vivo through downregulating the expression of Ca2+/CaM-CaMKII, which was over-activated by parasitic infection. The results suggest that Ca2+/CaM-CaMKII may be a novel drug target, and that Vepm is a potential anti-echinococcal drug for the future control of echinococcosis.

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Identification and characterization of a novel sucrose-non-fermenting protein kinase/AMP-activated protein kinase-related protein kinase, SNARK

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj3550297 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 355 (2) ◽

pp. 297-305 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Diana L. LEFEBVRE ◽

Yahong BAI ◽

Nazanin SHAHMOLKY ◽

Monika SHARMA ◽

Raymond POON ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protein Kinase ◽

Cellular Response ◽

Catalytic Domain ◽

Metabolic Stress ◽

Glucose Deprivation ◽

Protein Band ◽

Northern Blotting ◽

Significant Similarity ◽

Amp Activated Protein Kinase

Subtraction hybridization after the exposure of keratinocytes to ultraviolet radiation identified a differentially expressed cDNA that encodes a protein of 630 amino acid residues possessing significant similarity to the catalytic domain of the sucrose-non-fermenting protein kinase (SNF1)/AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) family of serine/threonine protein kinases. Northern blotting and reverse-transcriptase-mediated PCR demonstrated that mRNA transcripts for the SNF1/AMPK-related kinase (SNARK) were widely expressed in rodent tissues. The SNARK gene was localized to human chromosome 1q32 by fluorescent in situ hybridization. SNARK was translated in vitro to yield a single protein band of approx. 76kDa; Western analysis of transfected baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells detected two SNARK-immunoreactive bands of approx. 76-80kDa. SNARK was capable of autophosphorylation in vitro; immunoprecipitated SNARK exhibited phosphotransferase activity with the synthetic peptide substrate HMRSAMSGLHLVKRR (SAMS) as a kinase substrate. SNARK activity was significantly increased by AMP and 5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide riboside (AICAriboside) in rat keratinocyte cells, implying that SNARK might be activated by an AMPK kinase-dependent pathway. Furthermore, glucose deprivation increased SNARK activity 3-fold in BHK fibroblasts. These findings identify SNARK as a glucose- and AICAriboside-regulated member of the AMPK-related gene family that represents a new candidate mediator of the cellular response to metabolic stress.

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Interleukin-6 Increases Insulin-Stimulated Glucose Disposal in Humans and Glucose Uptake and Fatty Acid Oxidation In Vitro via AMP-Activated Protein Kinase

Diabetes ◽

10.2337/db05-1404 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 55 (10) ◽

pp. 2688-2697 ◽

Cited By ~ 473

Author(s):

A. L. Carey ◽

G. R. Steinberg ◽

S. L. Macaulay ◽

W. G. Thomas ◽

A. G. Holmes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acid ◽

Protein Kinase ◽

Glucose Uptake ◽

Fatty Acid Oxidation ◽

Interleukin 6 ◽

Glucose Disposal ◽

Acid Oxidation ◽

Amp Activated Protein Kinase

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AMP-activated protein kinase activity and glucose uptake in rat skeletal muscle

AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism ◽

10.1152/ajpendo.2001.280.5.e677 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 280 (5) ◽

pp. E677-E684 ◽

Cited By ~ 152

Author(s):

Nicolas Musi ◽

Tatsuya Hayashi ◽

Nobuharu Fujii ◽

Michael F. Hirshman ◽

Lee A. Witters ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Protein Kinase ◽

Glucose Uptake ◽

Muscle Contractions ◽

Treadmill Running ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Rat Skeletal Muscle ◽

Amp Activated Protein Kinase ◽

Dose Dependent

The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has been hypothesized to mediate contraction and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide 1-β-d-ribonucleoside (AICAR)-induced increases in glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether treadmill exercise and isolated muscle contractions in rat skeletal muscle increase the activity of the AMPKα1 and AMPKα2 catalytic subunits in a dose-dependent manner and to evaluate the effects of the putative AMPK inhibitors adenine 9-β-d-arabinofuranoside (ara-A), 8-bromo-AMP, and iodotubercidin on AMPK activity and 3- O-methyl-d-glucose (3-MG) uptake. There were dose-dependent increases in AMPKα2 activity and 3-MG uptake in rat epitrochlearis muscles with treadmill running exercise but no effect of exercise on AMPKα1 activity. Tetanic contractions of isolated epitrochlearis muscles in vitro significantly increased the activity of both AMPK isoforms in a dose-dependent manner and at a similar rate compared with increases in 3-MG uptake. In isolated muscles, the putative AMPK inhibitors ara-A, 8-bromo-AMP, and iodotubercidin fully inhibited AICAR-stimulated AMPKα2 activity and 3-MG uptake but had little effect on AMPKα1 activity. In contrast, these compounds had absent or minimal effects on contraction-stimulated AMPKα1 and -α2 activity and 3-MG uptake. Although the AMPKα1 and -α2 isoforms are activated during tetanic muscle contractions in vitro, in fast-glycolytic fibers, the activation of AMPKα2-containing complexes may be more important in regulating exercise-mediated skeletal muscle metabolism in vivo. Development of new compounds will be required to study contraction regulation of AMPK by pharmacological inhibition.

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Ωρίμανση ωοκυττάρων in vitro

10.12681/eadd/28056 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Ολυμπία Πικίου

Keyword(s):

Protein Kinase ◽

Tuberous Sclerosis ◽

Adenosine Triphosphate ◽

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex ◽

Adenosine Monophosphate ◽

Amp Activated Protein Kinase

Η μετφορμίνη, ένα παράγωγο της διγουανίδης, χρησιμοποιείται ως θεραπεία του σακχαρώδη διαβήτη τύπου 2 και στη θεραπεία του PCOS. Οι κύριες δράσεις της μετφορμίνης είναι η αναστολή της παραγωγής γλυκόζης από το ήπαρ και η μείωση της αντίστασης στην ινσουλίνη από περιφερικούς ιστούς, οδηγώντας σε αυξημένη πρόσληψη και χρήση της γλυκόζης από τους σκελετικούς μυς. Ο κύριος διαμεσολαβητής της δράσης της μετφορμίνης είναι η AMPK [AMP-activated protein kinase: πρωτεϊνική κινάση που ενεργοποιείται από την AMP (μονοφωσφορική αδενοσίνη)]. Η AMPK είναι ο κεντρικός αισθητήρας των επιπέδων ενέργειας στο κύτταρο, ο οποίος ανταποκρίνεται στην αύξηση του λόγου AMP/ATP (adenosine monophosphate/adenosine triphosphate: μονοφωσφορική/τριφωσφορική αδενοσίνη). Μελέτες σε ωοκύτταρα βοοειδών έχουν δείξει ότι η ενεργοποίηση της AMPK από τη μετφορμίνη σε υψηλές συγκεντρώσεις της τάξεως των mM ελέγχει την πυρηνική ωρίμανση. Το TSC2 (tuberous sclerosis complex 2: σύμπλεγμα οζώδους σκλήρυνσης 2) έχει αναγνωριστεί ως ο κατωφερής στόχος της AMPK. Σκοπός της παρούσης μελέτης ήταν η διερεύνηση της επίδρασης χαμηλών συγκεντρώσεων μετφορμίνης (1nM-10μΜ) (i) στη δημιουργία εμβρύων βοοειδών από συμπλέγματα ωοκυττάρου-ωοφόρου δίσκου, (ii) το ρυθμό διαίρεσης των εμβρύων και, (iii) την πιθανή ενεργοποίηση του TSC2 μέσω της AMPK. Τα συμπλέγματα ωοκυττάρου-ωοφόρου δίσκου ωρίμαζαν in vitro, γονιμοποιούνταν με αναβιωμένα σπερματοζωάρια ταύρου και τα ζυγωτά καλλιεργούνταν συνολικά για 72 ώρες μετά τη σπερματέγχυση. Η μετφορμίνη χορηγήθηκε σε όλα τα στάδια της παραγωγής των εμβρύων ή μόνο κατά το στάδιο της γονιμοποίησης. Προκειμένου να διερευνηθεί η παρουσία της TSC2 κατά τα πρώτα στάδια ανάπτυξης των εμβρύων και η πιθανή ενεργοποίηση του μορίου αυτού μέσω της AMPK πραγματοποιήθηκαν πειράματα ανοσοφθορισμού. Σύμφωνα με τα αποτελέσματα μας, η χορήγηση της μετφορμίνης είχε δοσο-εξαρτώμενη επίδραση στο ρυθμό διαίρεσης των εμβρύων. Συγκεκριμένα, παρουσία μετφορμίνης σε όλα τα στάδια της in vitro παραγωγής εμβρύων σε συγκέντρωση 1μΜ και 10μΜ ή μόνο στο στάδιο της in vitro γονιμοποίησης σε συγκέντρωση 0,1μΜ και 10μΜ, το ποσοστό των εμβρύων που έφτασαν στο στάδιο των ≥8-κυττάρων παρουσίασε στατιστικώς σημαντική μείωση, σε σχέση με αυτό της ομάδας ελέγχου. Η μείωση αυτή στο ποσοστό των εμβρύων ≥8-κυττάρων συνοδεύτηκε από αύξηση του ποσοστού των εμβρύων 2-κυττάρων. Η μετφορμίνη δεν είχε καμία επίδραση στο ποσοστό των ωοκυττάρων που εξελίχθηκαν σε έμβρυα. Σύμφωνα με τα αποτελέσματα μας, το TSC2 εκφράζεται κατά τα πρώτα στάδια ανάπτυξης των εμβρύων βοοειδών. Επιπλέον διαπιστώθηκε ότι, η χορήγηση 10μΜ μετφορμίνης είτε σε όλα τα στάδια της in vitro παραγωγής εμβρύων ή μόνο κατά το στάδιο της in vitro γονιμοποίησης είχε ως αποτέλεσμα την ενεργοποίηση του TSC2 μέσω της AMPK. Συγκεκριμένα διαπιστώθηκε ότι, τα επίπεδα του φωσφορυλιωμένου TSC2, μετά τη χορήγηση μετφορμίνης, αντιστοιχούν στην ολική ποσότητα TSC2 πρωτεΐνης στα κύτταρα γεγονός που προκύπτει τόσο από την αύξηση της PhosphoS1387-TSC2-ανοσοδραστικότητας όσο και από την αύξηση του λόγου PhosphoS1387-TSC2 : ολική TSC2 η οποία παρατηρήθηκε. Τα αποτελέσματα της παρούσης διατριβής υποδεικνύουν για πρώτη φορά ότι, η μετφορμίνη δεν έχει καμία επίδραση στο ποσοστό των ωοκυττάρων που εξελίσσονται σε έμβρυα και κατά συνέπεια δεν επηρεάζει την ωρίμανση των ωοκυττάρων όταν χορηγείται σε συγκεντρώσεις της τάξεως των μM. Εντούτοις, η μετφορμίνη σε αυτές τις συγκεντρώσεις έχει αρνητική δοσο-εξαρτώμενη επίδραση στο ρυθμό διαίρεσης των εμβρύων βοοειδών. Η δράση αυτή της μετφορμίνης στο ρυθμό διαίρεσης των εμβρύων είναι η ίδια είτε το φάρμακο χορηγείται καθ' όλη τη διάρκεια της in vitro παραγωγής των εμβρύων είτε μόνο κατά το στάδιο της in vitro γονιμοποίησης. Επιπλέον, δεδομένου ότι η μετφορμίνη είναι ενεργοποιητής της ΑΜΡΚ, τα αποτελέσματα μας σηματοδοτούν τη σπουδαιότητα της ρύθμισης της δραστηριότητας της ΑΜΡΚ κατά τα πρώτα στάδια ανάπτυξης των εμβρύων και δείχνουν ότι κάθε μεταβολή των επιπέδων δραστηριότητας του ενζύμου αυτού μπορεί να έχει αρνητική επίδραση στην ανάπτυξη των εμβρύων. Τέλος, από τα αποτελέσματα μας μπορεί να συναχθεί ότι το μοριακό μονοπάτι το οποίο εμπλέκεται στη μείωση του ρυθμού διαίρεσης των εμβρύων από τη μετφορμίνη περιλαμβάνει την ενεργοποίηση του TSC2 από την ΑΜΡΚ.

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mTOR Inhibitor Therapy and Metabolic Consequences: Where Do We Stand?

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity ◽

10.1155/2018/2640342 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Aleksandra Kezic ◽

Ljiljana Popovic ◽

Katarina Lalic

Keyword(s):

Protein Kinase ◽

Glucose Metabolism ◽

Calorie Restriction ◽

Mtor Inhibitor ◽

Hepatic Glucose Production ◽

Mtor Inhibitors ◽

Glucose Production ◽

Metabolic Effects ◽

Solid Organ ◽

Amp Activated Protein Kinase

mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) protein kinase acts as a central integrator of nutrient signaling pathways. Besides the immunosuppressive role after solid organ transplantations or in the treatment of some cancers, another promising role of mTOR inhibitor as an antiaging therapeutic has emerged in the recent years. Acute or intermittent rapamycin treatment has some resemblance to calorie restriction in metabolic effects such as an increased insulin sensitivity. However, the chronic inhibition of mTOR by macrolide rapamycin or other rapalogs has been associated with glucose intolerance and insulin resistance and may even provoke type II diabetes. These metabolic adverse effects limit the use of mTOR inhibitors. Metformin is a widely used drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes which activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), acting as calorie restriction mimetic. In addition to the glucose-lowering effect resulting from the decreased hepatic glucose production and increased glucose utilization, metformin induces fatty acid oxidations. Here, we review the recent advances in our understanding of the metabolic consequences regarding glucose metabolism induced by mTOR inhibitors and compare them to the metabolic profile provoked by metformin use. We further suggest metformin use concurrent with rapalogs in order to pharmacologically address the impaired glucose metabolism and prevent the development of new-onset diabetes mellitus after solid organ transplantations induced by the chronic rapalog treatment.

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Isoflurane activates AMP-activated protein kinase to inhibit proliferation, and promote apoptosis and autophagy in cervical carcinoma both in vitro and in vivo

Journal of Receptors and Signal Transduction ◽

10.1080/10799893.2020.1831535 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Hongfang Wei ◽

Tianze Sun ◽

Jie Liu ◽

Xiaowei Wang ◽

Guangping Zhao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protein Kinase ◽

Cervical Carcinoma ◽

Amp Activated Protein Kinase

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Sex Differences in the Metabolic Effects of Testosterone in Sheep

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/en.2011-1634 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 153 (1) ◽

pp. 123-131 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Scott D. Clarke ◽

Iain J. Clarke ◽

Alexandra Rao ◽

Michael A. Cowley ◽

Belinda A. Henry

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Protein Kinase ◽

Uncoupling Protein ◽

Specific Effect ◽

Metabolic Effects ◽

Mrna Levels ◽

Nonesterified Fatty Acids ◽

Glucose Levels ◽

Amp Activated Protein Kinase ◽

The Brain

Adiposity is regulated in a sexually divergent manner. This is partly due to sex steroids, but the differential effects of androgens in males and females are unclear. We investigated effects of testosterone on energy balance in castrated male (n = 6) and female sheep (n = 4), which received 3 × 200 mg testosterone implants for 2 wk or blank implants (controls). Temperature probes were implanted into retroperitoneal fat and skeletal muscle. Blood samples were taken to measure metabolites and insulin. In males, muscle and fat biopsies were collected to measure uncoupling protein (UCP) mRNA and phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase and Akt. Testosterone did not change food intake in either sex. Temperature in muscle was higher in males than females, and testosterone reduced heat production in males only. In fat, however, temperature was higher in the castrate males compared with females, and there was no effect of testosterone treatment in either sex. Preprandial glucose levels were lower, but nonesterified fatty acids were higher in females compared with males, irrespective of testosterone. In males, the onset of feeding increased UCP1 and UCP3 mRNA levels in skeletal muscle, without an effect of testosterone. During feeding, testosterone reduced glucose levels in males only but did not alter the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase or Akt in muscle. Thus, testosterone maintains lower muscle and fat temperatures in males but not females. The mechanism underlying this sex-specific effect of testosterone is unknown but may be due to sexual differentiation of the brain centers controlling energy expenditure.

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Hypoxia and AMP independently regulate AMP-activated protein kinase activity in heart

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.00558.2004 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 288 (5) ◽

pp. H2412-H2421 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Markus Frederich ◽

Li Zhang ◽

James A. Balschi

Keyword(s):

Protein Kinase ◽

Metabolic Inhibitors ◽

Protein Kinase Activity ◽

Α Subunit ◽

Rat Hearts ◽

Upstream Kinase ◽

Ampk Activity ◽

Amp Activated Protein Kinase

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].

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