title: AICAR induced AMPK activation potentiates neuronal insulin signaling and glucose uptake.
abstract: Insulin signaling is extensively studied in peripheral tissues while comparatively understudied in neuronal cells. AMPK is considered to be a fuel gauge of our body and activation of the same has been reported to increase insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscles thereby increasing glucose transport. However its role in neuronal insulin signaling is not established yet. Here we report positive regulation of insulin signaling as well as glucose uptake by AICAR, a pharmacological activator of AMPK, in cultured Neuro-2a cells in vitro. Compound C, a specific AMPK inhibitor, completely blocked the potentiating effects of AICAR on insulin signaling and glucose uptake, thus suggesting that AMPK mediates effects of AICAR on insulin signaling. Our study provides valuable insight in understanding the role of AMPK in neuronal insulin signal transduction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Sec. 67, S.A.S. Nagar, Punjab 160 062, India.
authors.forename: Alok Kishorkumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Chinmoy Sankar
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Dey
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000620:Aminoimidazole Carboxamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012265:Ribonucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D012265:Ribonucleotides; D000620:Aminoimidazole Carboxamide; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; C031143:AICA ribonucleotide; D005947:Glucose