AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Activation by 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR) Inhibits Palmitate-Induced Endothelial Cell Apoptosis Through Reactive Oxygen Species Suppression

• Published in: Journal of Pharmacological Sciences 2008, Vol.106(3), pp.394-403
• Main Authors: Kim, Ji-Eun, Kim, Yong-Woon, Lee, In Kyu, Kim, Jong-Yeon, Kang, Young Jin, Park, So-Young
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenylate Kinase - physiology; Aminoimidazole Carboxamide - analogs & derivatives; Aminoimidazole Carboxamide - pharmacology; AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK); Animals; apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Cattle; Cells, Cultured; endothelial cell; Endothelial Cells - cytology; Endothelial Cells - drug effects; Endothelial Cells - metabolism; Enzyme Activation; Guanosine Diphosphate - pharmacology; Ion Channels - physiology; Mitochondrial Proteins - physiology; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - physiology; palmitate; Palmitic Acid - pharmacology; Reactive Oxygen Species; reactive oxygen species (ROS); Ribonucleotides - pharmacology; Uncoupling Protein 2
• ISSN: 1347-8613; 1347-8648
• DOI: 10.1254/jphs.FP0071857

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation has an antiapoptotic effect in endothelial cells, but the mechanisms involved remain unclear. Here, we investigated whether AMPK activation could inhibit palmitate-induced apoptosis through suppression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in bovine aortic endothelial cells. Palmitate increases ROS generation and thereby p38 activation, which leads to apoptosis in bovine aortic endothelial cells. The AMPK activator 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR) and constitutive active AMPK inhibit palmitate-induced apoptosis through suppression of ROS. The AMPK inhibitor compound C, dominant-negative AMPK, and the uncoupling protein inhibitor guanosine diphosphate block the antiapoptotic and antioxidative effects of AICAR. The increase in uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) by AICAR is also suppressed by compound C and guanosine diphosphate. AICAR-mediated suppression of palmitate-induced p38 activation is also inhibited by guanosine diphosphate. Over-expression of UCP2 inhibits palmitate-induced apoptosis and ROS generation. These data suggest that the activation of AMPK inhibits palmitate-induced endothelial cell apoptosis through the suppression of ROS generation, and UCP-2 may be one of possible mediators of the antioxidative effect of AMPK.