AMPK: Potential Therapeutic Target for Vascular Calcification

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

Zhen Yuan¹  Yi Lu¹  Tan Yuan¹  Xinjia Min¹  Zhejun Cai² 

[1] Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China;Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China;Jiaxing Key Laboratory of Cardiac Rehabilitation, Jiaxing, China;

关键词: AMP-activated protein kinase;    autophagy;    endoplasmic reticulum stress;    runt-related transcription factor 2;    vascular calcification;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fcvm.2021.670222

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Vascular calcification (VC) is an urgent worldwide health issue with no available medical treatment. It is an active cell-driven process by osteogenic differentiation of vascular cells with complex mechanisms. The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) serves as the master sensor of cellular energy status. Accumulating evidence reveals the vital role of AMPK in VC progression. AMPK is involved in VC in various ways, including inhibiting runt-related transcription factor 2 signaling pathways, triggering autophagy, attenuating endoplasmic reticulum stress and dynamic-related protein 1-mediated mitochondrial fission, and activating endothelial nitric oxide synthase. AMPK activators, like metformin, are associated with reduced calcification deposits in certain groups of patients, indicating that AMPK is a potential therapeutic target for VC.

【 授权许可】

CC BY