title: Immunometabolism of AMPK in insulin resistance and atherosclerosis.
abstract: Obesity leads to insulin resistance and atherosclerosis, which precede Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Immunometabolism addresses how metabolic and inflammatory pathways converge to maintain health and a contemporary problem is determining how obesity-induced inflammation precipitates chronic diseases such as insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an important serine/threonine kinase well known for regulating metabolic processes and maintaining energy homeostasis. However, both metabolic and immunological AMPK-mediated effects play a role in disease. Pro-inflammatory mediators suppress AMPK activity and hinder lipid oxidation. In addition, AMPK activation curbs inflammation by directly inhibiting pro-inflammatory signaling pathways and limiting the build-up of specific lipid intermediates that elicit immune responses. In the context of obesity and chronic disease, these reciprocal responses involve both immune and metabolic cells. Therefore, the immunometabolism of AMPK-mediated processes and therapeutics should be considered in atherosclerosis and insulin resistance.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Morgan D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Fullerton
authors.forename: Gregory R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Schertzer
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases