Premium
The AMP‐activated protein kinase prevents ceramide synthesis de novo and apoptosis in astrocytes
Author(s) -
Blázquez Cristina,
Geelen Math J.H,
Velasco Guillermo,
Guzmán Manuel
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(01)02089-0
Subject(s) - ceramide , ampk , protein kinase a , amp activated protein kinase , ask1 , apoptosis , microbiology and biotechnology , kinase , chemistry , mitogen activated protein kinase kinase , biochemistry , biology
Fatty acids induce apoptosis in primary astrocytes by enhancing ceramide synthesis de novo. The possible role of the AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the control of apoptosis was studied in this model. Long‐term stimulation of AMPK with 5‐aminoimidazole‐4‐carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR) prevented apoptosis. AICAR blunted fatty acid‐mediated induction of serine palmitoyltransferase and ceramide synthesis de novo, without affecting fatty acid synthesis and oxidation. Prevention of ceramide accumulation by AICAR led to a concomitant blockade of the Raf‐1/extracellular signal‐regulated kinase cascade, which selectively mediates fatty acid‐induced apoptosis. Data indicate that AMPK may protect cells from apoptosis induced by stress stimuli.