AMP-activated protein kinase is highly expressed in neurons in the developing rat brain and promotes neuronal survival following glucose deprivation

Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a member of meta bolite-sensing kinase family that plays important roles in responses of mus cle cells to metabolic stress. AMPK is a heterotrimer of a catalytic a subu nit (alpha1 or alpha2), and beta(beta1 or beta2) and gamma(gamma1 or gamma2 ) subunits. Because the brain has a high metabolic rate and is sensitive to changes in the supply of glucose and oxygen, we investigated the expressio n of AMPK in rat embryonic and adult brain and its role in modifying neuron al survival under conditions of cellular stress. We report that catalytic ( alpha1 and alpha2) and noncatalytic (beta2 and gamma1) subunits of AMPK are present at high levels in embryonic hippocampal neurons in vivo and in cel l culture. In the adult rat brain, the catalytic subunits al and alpha2 are present in neurons throughout the brain. The AMPK-activating agent AICAR p rotected hippocampal neurons against death induced by glucose deprivation, chemical hypoxia, and exposure to glutamate and amyloid beta -peptide. Supp ression of levels of the AMPK alpha1 and alpha2 subunits using antisense te chnology resulted in enhanced neuronal death following glucose deprivation, and abolished the neuroprotective effect of AICAR. These findings suggest that AMPK can protect neurons against metabolic and excitotoxic insults rel evant to the pathogenesis of several different neurodegenerative conditions .