title: The role of AMP-activated protein kinase in obesity.
abstract: AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a major regulator of energy metabolism at both the cell and at the whole body level. Numerous genetic and obesity models as well as human studies have suggested a role for AMPK in the physiological regulation of fatty acid and glucose metabolism, and in the regulation of appetite. Changes in AMPK activity have been reported in obesity, type 2 diabetes, the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease, which jointly represent a major health and economical problem worldwide. Whether AMPK changes are one of the causes or the consequence of these pathological conditions remains a matter of debate, but AMPK clearly represents a major potential pharmacological target in the treatment of these conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Barts and the London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Blerina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kola
authors.forename: Ashley B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Grossman
authors.forename: Márta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korbonits
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases