Roles of AMPK and Its Downstream Signals in Pain Regulation

Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional state that decreases quality of life. A metabolic sensor, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is ubiquitously expressed in mammalian cells, has recently attracted interest as a new target of pain research. Abnormal AMPK expressio...

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Main Authors: Shenglan Wang, Yi Dai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-08-01
Series:Life
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/8/836
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author Shenglan Wang
Yi Dai
author_facet Shenglan Wang
Yi Dai
author_sort Shenglan Wang
collection DOAJ
description Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional state that decreases quality of life. A metabolic sensor, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is ubiquitously expressed in mammalian cells, has recently attracted interest as a new target of pain research. Abnormal AMPK expression and function in the peripheral and central nervous systems are associated with various types of pain. AMPK and its downstream kinases participate in the regulation of neuron excitability, neuroinflammation and axonal and myelin regeneration. Numerous AMPK activators have reduced pain behavior in animal models. The current understanding of pain has been deepened by AMPK research, but certain issues, such as the interactions of AMPK at each step of pain regulation, await further investigation. This review examines the roles of AMPK and its downstream kinases in neurons and non-neuronal cells, as well as their contribution to pain regulation.
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spelling doaj.art-33489de6d0c0436fbb4f090db8a7c56e2023-11-22T08:23:37ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292021-08-0111883610.3390/life11080836Roles of AMPK and Its Downstream Signals in Pain RegulationShenglan Wang0Yi Dai1School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Hyogo University of Health Sciences, Kobe 650-8530, JapanPain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional state that decreases quality of life. A metabolic sensor, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is ubiquitously expressed in mammalian cells, has recently attracted interest as a new target of pain research. Abnormal AMPK expression and function in the peripheral and central nervous systems are associated with various types of pain. AMPK and its downstream kinases participate in the regulation of neuron excitability, neuroinflammation and axonal and myelin regeneration. Numerous AMPK activators have reduced pain behavior in animal models. The current understanding of pain has been deepened by AMPK research, but certain issues, such as the interactions of AMPK at each step of pain regulation, await further investigation. This review examines the roles of AMPK and its downstream kinases in neurons and non-neuronal cells, as well as their contribution to pain regulation.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/8/836AMPKpainneurongliametabolic sensor
spellingShingle Shenglan Wang
Yi Dai
Roles of AMPK and Its Downstream Signals in Pain Regulation
Life
AMPK
pain
neuron
glia
metabolic sensor
title Roles of AMPK and Its Downstream Signals in Pain Regulation
title_full Roles of AMPK and Its Downstream Signals in Pain Regulation
title_fullStr Roles of AMPK and Its Downstream Signals in Pain Regulation
title_full_unstemmed Roles of AMPK and Its Downstream Signals in Pain Regulation
title_short Roles of AMPK and Its Downstream Signals in Pain Regulation
title_sort roles of ampk and its downstream signals in pain regulation
topic AMPK
pain
neuron
glia
metabolic sensor
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/8/836
work_keys_str_mv AT shenglanwang rolesofampkanditsdownstreamsignalsinpainregulation
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