Endocrine Abstracts

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is the downstream component of a protein kinase cascade that has been proposed to act as an important regulator of both cellular and organismal energy homeostasis. Increases in the cellular AMP: ATP ratio promotes phosphorylation and activation of AMPK by the upstream kinase LKB1. AMPK subsequently phosphorylates target proteins that inhibit ATP-consuming anabolic pathways and stimulates ATP-producing catabolic pathways. AMPK is therefore ac...

Insulin resistance states are associated with endothelial dysfunction, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this association are incompletely understood. Impairment of insulin stimulated endothelial NO production is proposed to be a key mechanism in this process. In cultured human aortic endothelial cell (HAEC) models, insulin stimulates an intracellular signalling cascade resulting in activating phosphorylation of Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 (IRS-1), Protein kinase B (PKB...

The PROactive study recently demonstrated that pioglitazone, a thiazolidinedione class drug, reduces macrovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. This class of drug has been reported to exert PPAR gamma receptor dependent as well as receptor independent effects, possibly via AMP kinase activation (AMPK) but the precise mode of action resulting in improved cardiovascular outcome remains uncertain.We studied the effects of rosigl...