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...
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-05-01
|
Series: | Cells |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/5/1122 |
id |
doaj-b1c9e9fef7474fdfbab9cfd114cba3db |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
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 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT jamieivandervaart theroleofampksignalinginbrownadiposetissueactivation AT marietterboon theroleofampksignalinginbrownadiposetissueactivation AT riekelthhoutkooper theroleofampksignalinginbrownadiposetissueactivation AT jamieivandervaart roleofampksignalinginbrownadiposetissueactivation AT marietterboon roleofampksignalinginbrownadiposetissueactivation AT riekelthhoutkooper roleofampksignalinginbrownadiposetissueactivation |
_version_ |
1721417750567452672 |