title: AMPK: mediating the metabolic effects of salicylate-based drugs?
abstract: Salicylates are among the oldest medicinal compounds known to humans, and have been used to reduce fever, pain, and inflammation. The major oral salicylates are aspirin and salsalate, both of which are rapidly metabolized to salicylate in vivo. Owing to its acetyl group, aspirin irreversibly inhibits cyclo-oxygenases and thus blocks platelet aggregation, whereas salsalate has been used for treatment of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Recently, beneficial effects of salicylates in type 2 diabetes and cancer have been proposed. This has led to renewed interest in understanding how these simple molecules have such diverse and multifaceted effects. Here we discuss the idea that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) might mediate some effects of salicylate-based drugs, particularly by modulating cellular metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z5, Canada. Electronic address: gsteinberg@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Gregory R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: Madhumita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dandapani
authors.forename: D Grahame
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Hardie
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D012459:Salicylates / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D012459:Salicylates; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: AMPK; aspirin; cancer; diabetes; inflammation; salicylate