AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK)-Dependent Regulation of Renal Transport [27.11.18]
Based on a growing list of studies indicating the pivotal role of AMPK as a metabolic-sensing regulator of a multitude of transport processes in the kidney, this paper of recently appointed Professor Föller and a colleague from the University of Halle/Saale reviews the AMPK-dependent regulation of membrane transport along nephron segments and discusses physiological and pathophysiological implications. The authors stress the need of future studies to focus on the therapeutic options of pharmacological AMPK intervention to combat kidney disease (Glosse & Föller et al, 2018)
Original publication
Glosse, Philipp; Föller, Michael (2018): AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK)-Dependent Regulation of Renal Transport. In: International journal of molecular sciences 19 (11). DOI: 10.3390/ijms19113481.
Author information:
Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
Institute of Physiology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, D-70599, Germany
Abstract
AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) is a serine/threonine kinase that is expressed in most cells and activated by a high cellular AMP/ATP ratio (indicating energy deficiency) or by Ca2+. In general, AMPK turns on energy-generating pathways (e.g., glucose uptake, glycolysis, fatty acid oxidation) and stops energy-consuming processes (e.g., lipogenesis, glycogenesis), thereby helping cells survive low energy states. The functional element of the kidney, the nephron, consists of the glomerulus, where the primary urine is filtered, and the proximal tubule, Henle's loop, the distal tubule, and the collecting duct. In the tubular system of the kidney, the composition of primary urine is modified by the reabsorption and secretion of ions and molecules to yield final excreted urine. The underlying membrane transport processes are mainly energy-consuming (active transport) and in some cases passive. Since active transport accounts for a large part of the cell's ATP demands, it is an important target for AMPK. Here, we review the AMPK-dependent regulation of membrane transport along nephron segments and discuss physiological and pathophysiological implications.
