The Role of AMPK Signaling in Brown Adipose Tissue Activation

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...

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Main Authors: Jamie I. van der Vaart, Mariëtte R. Boon, Riekelt H. Houtkooper
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
Series:Cells
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/5/1122
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spelling doaj-b1c9e9fef7474fdfbab9cfd114cba3db2021-05-31T23:21:26ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092021-05-01101122112210.3390/cells10051122The Role of AMPK Signaling in Brown Adipose Tissue ActivationJamie I. van der Vaart0Mariëtte R. Boon1Riekelt H. Houtkooper2Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The NetherlandsLaboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The NetherlandsObesity 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/5/1122AMPK signalingbrown adipose tissueenergy metabolismobesity
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Jamie I. van der Vaart
Mariëtte R. Boon
Riekelt H. Houtkooper
spellingShingle Jamie I. van der Vaart
Mariëtte R. Boon
Riekelt H. Houtkooper
The Role of AMPK Signaling in Brown Adipose Tissue Activation
Cells
AMPK signaling
brown adipose tissue
energy metabolism
obesity
author_facet Jamie I. van der Vaart
Mariëtte R. Boon
Riekelt H. Houtkooper
author_sort Jamie I. van der Vaart
title The Role of AMPK Signaling in Brown Adipose Tissue Activation
title_short The Role of AMPK Signaling in Brown Adipose Tissue Activation
title_full The Role of AMPK Signaling in Brown Adipose Tissue Activation
title_fullStr The Role of AMPK Signaling in Brown Adipose Tissue Activation
title_full_unstemmed The Role of AMPK Signaling in Brown Adipose Tissue Activation
title_sort role of ampk signaling in brown adipose tissue activation
publisher MDPI AG
series Cells
issn 2073-4409
publishDate 2021-05-01
description 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.
topic AMPK signaling
brown adipose tissue
energy metabolism
obesity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/5/1122
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