In vivo activation of AMP-activated protein kinase attenuates diabetes-enhanced degradation of GTP cyclohydrolase I.
The activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has been reported to improve endothelial function. However, the targets of AMPK in endothelial cells remain poorly defined. The aim of this study was to test whether AMPK suppresses the degradation of GTP-cyclohydrolase (GTPCH I), a key event in vascular endothelial dysfunction in diabetes.



Both human umbilical vein endothelial cells and aortas isolated from streptozotocin-injected diabetic mice were assayed for phospho-AMPK (Thr172), GTPCH I, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), and endothelial functions.



Oral administration of metformin (300 mg x kg(-1) . day(-1), 4 weeks) in streptozotocin-injected mice significantly blunted the diabetes-induced reduction of AMPK phosphorylation at Thr172. Metformin treatment also normalized acetylcholine-induced endothelial relaxation and increased the levels of GTPCH I and BH4. The administration of AICAR, an AMPK activator, or adenoviral overexpression of a constitutively active mutant of AMPK abolished the high-glucose-induced (30 mmol/l) reduction of GTPCH I, biopeterins, and BH4 but had no effect on GTPCH I mRNA. Furthermore, AICAR or overexpression of AMPK inhibited the high-glucose-enhanced 26S proteasome activity. Consistently, inhibition of the proteasome by MG132 abolished high-glucose-induced reduction of GTPCH I in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Further, aortas isolated from AMPKalpha2(-/-) mice, which exhibited elevated 26S proteasome activity, had reduced levels of GTPCH I and BH4. Finally, either administration of MG132 or supplementation of l-sepiapterin normalized the impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in aortas isolated from AMPKalpha2(-/-) mice.



We conclude that AMPK activation normalizes vascular endothelial function by suppressing 26S proteasome-mediated GTPCH I degradation in diabetes.
Wang
Shuangxi
S
Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, Herald Hamm Diabetes Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Xu
Jian
J
Song
Ping
P
Viollet
Benoit
B
Zou
Ming-Hui
MH
D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006136:GTP Cyclohydrolase / Q000378:metabolism*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D014162:Transfection; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000502:physiology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology
D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; D006136:GTP Cyclohydrolase