AMPK Mediates Early Activation of the Unfolded Protein Response through a Positive Feedback Loop in Palmitate-Treated Muscle Cells

Background: Activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) is closely related to the pathogenesis of many metabolic disorders. Accumulating evidence also shows that UPR and metabolic signaling pathways are interdependent. The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signal pathway controls the energy...

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Main Authors: Jing Gong, Lu Wang, Wuchen Tao, Xiangsheng Pang, Zonghan Liu, Shiming Li, Wenjiong Li, Xiaoping Chen, Peng Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IMR Press 2023-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/28/8/10.31083/j.fbl2808159
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author Jing Gong
Lu Wang
Wuchen Tao
Xiangsheng Pang
Zonghan Liu
Shiming Li
Wenjiong Li
Xiaoping Chen
Peng Zhang
author_facet Jing Gong
Lu Wang
Wuchen Tao
Xiangsheng Pang
Zonghan Liu
Shiming Li
Wenjiong Li
Xiaoping Chen
Peng Zhang
author_sort Jing Gong
collection DOAJ
description Background: Activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) is closely related to the pathogenesis of many metabolic disorders. Accumulating evidence also shows that UPR and metabolic signaling pathways are interdependent. The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signal pathway controls the energy balance of eukaryotes. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the possible interaction between AMPK signaling and UPR in muscle cells exposed to saturated fatty acids, as well as the potential mechanism. Methods: The saturated fatty acid palmitate was used to induce UPR in C2C12 myotubes. Compound C or knockdown of AMPKα with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) were used to inhibit the AMPK signaling pathway in palmitate-treated muscle cells. AMPK signaling in myotubes was activated using 5-amino-1-β-D-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-carboxamide (AICAR) or ex229. C2C12 myotubes were pre-treated with taurourdodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) to inhibit UPR before adding palmitate. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were performed to evaluate the expression of UPR markers and activation of AMPK. Results: Palmitate treatment induced UPR in C2C12 myotubes while activating AMPK signaling. Inhibition of the AMPK pathway with compound C or AMPK shRNA reduced palmitate-induced activation of UPR, while inhibition of UPR with TUDCA reduced palmitate-induced AMPK activation. This indicates a positive feedback loop between UPR and AMPK. Furthermore, activation of the AMPK pathway with AICAR or ex229 caused a dose-dependent upregulation of UPR markers, including activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), binding immunoglobulin protein (BIP), and growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible 34 (GADD34) protein. Conclusions: These results provide the first evidence that AMPK signaling is involved in the early activation of UPR caused by saturated fatty acids in skeletal muscle. Furthermore, they indicate that physiological or pharmacological activation of the AMPK pathway (e.g., by exercise or phenformin, respectively) can promote muscle health and function, thereby improving the quality of life in individuals with metabolic disorders due to a high-fat diet or obesity.
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spelling doaj.art-fd591b8f350d4976a01db4fde1bed19c2023-09-04T09:13:41ZengIMR PressFrontiers in Bioscience-Landmark2768-67012023-08-0128815910.31083/j.fbl2808159S2768-6701(23)00804-3AMPK Mediates Early Activation of the Unfolded Protein Response through a Positive Feedback Loop in Palmitate-Treated Muscle CellsJing Gong0Lu Wang1Wuchen Tao2Xiangsheng Pang3Zonghan Liu4Shiming Li5Wenjiong Li6Xiaoping Chen7Peng Zhang8State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, 100094 Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, 100094 Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, 100094 Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, 100094 Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, 100094 Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, 100094 Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, 100094 Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, 100094 Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, 100094 Beijing, ChinaBackground: Activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) is closely related to the pathogenesis of many metabolic disorders. Accumulating evidence also shows that UPR and metabolic signaling pathways are interdependent. The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signal pathway controls the energy balance of eukaryotes. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the possible interaction between AMPK signaling and UPR in muscle cells exposed to saturated fatty acids, as well as the potential mechanism. Methods: The saturated fatty acid palmitate was used to induce UPR in C2C12 myotubes. Compound C or knockdown of AMPKα with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) were used to inhibit the AMPK signaling pathway in palmitate-treated muscle cells. AMPK signaling in myotubes was activated using 5-amino-1-β-D-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-carboxamide (AICAR) or ex229. C2C12 myotubes were pre-treated with taurourdodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) to inhibit UPR before adding palmitate. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were performed to evaluate the expression of UPR markers and activation of AMPK. Results: Palmitate treatment induced UPR in C2C12 myotubes while activating AMPK signaling. Inhibition of the AMPK pathway with compound C or AMPK shRNA reduced palmitate-induced activation of UPR, while inhibition of UPR with TUDCA reduced palmitate-induced AMPK activation. This indicates a positive feedback loop between UPR and AMPK. Furthermore, activation of the AMPK pathway with AICAR or ex229 caused a dose-dependent upregulation of UPR markers, including activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), binding immunoglobulin protein (BIP), and growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible 34 (GADD34) protein. Conclusions: These results provide the first evidence that AMPK signaling is involved in the early activation of UPR caused by saturated fatty acids in skeletal muscle. Furthermore, they indicate that physiological or pharmacological activation of the AMPK pathway (e.g., by exercise or phenformin, respectively) can promote muscle health and function, thereby improving the quality of life in individuals with metabolic disorders due to a high-fat diet or obesity.https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/28/8/10.31083/j.fbl2808159palmitateer stressunfolded protein responseampkc2c12 myotube
spellingShingle Jing Gong
Lu Wang
Wuchen Tao
Xiangsheng Pang
Zonghan Liu
Shiming Li
Wenjiong Li
Xiaoping Chen
Peng Zhang
AMPK Mediates Early Activation of the Unfolded Protein Response through a Positive Feedback Loop in Palmitate-Treated Muscle Cells
Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark
palmitate
er stress
unfolded protein response
ampk
c2c12 myotube
title AMPK Mediates Early Activation of the Unfolded Protein Response through a Positive Feedback Loop in Palmitate-Treated Muscle Cells
title_full AMPK Mediates Early Activation of the Unfolded Protein Response through a Positive Feedback Loop in Palmitate-Treated Muscle Cells
title_fullStr AMPK Mediates Early Activation of the Unfolded Protein Response through a Positive Feedback Loop in Palmitate-Treated Muscle Cells
title_full_unstemmed AMPK Mediates Early Activation of the Unfolded Protein Response through a Positive Feedback Loop in Palmitate-Treated Muscle Cells
title_short AMPK Mediates Early Activation of the Unfolded Protein Response through a Positive Feedback Loop in Palmitate-Treated Muscle Cells
title_sort ampk mediates early activation of the unfolded protein response through a positive feedback loop in palmitate treated muscle cells
topic palmitate
er stress
unfolded protein response
ampk
c2c12 myotube
url https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/28/8/10.31083/j.fbl2808159
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