PGC-1α is required for AICAR induced expression of GLUT4 and mitochondrial proteins in mouse skeletal muscle

Lotte Leick, Joachim Fentz, Rasmus S. Biensø, Jakob G. Knudsen, Jacob Jeppesen, Bente Kiens, Jørgen Wojtaszewski, Henriette Pilegaard

69 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that repeated activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) induces mitochondrial and glucose membrane transporter mRNA/protein expression via a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α)-dependent mechanism. Whole body PGC-1α-knockout (KO) and littermate wild-type (WT) mice were given either single or repeated subcutaneous injections of the AMPK activator AICAR or saline. Skeletal muscles were removed either 1 or 4 h after the single AICAR treatment or 24 h after the last injection following repeated AICAR treatment. Repeated AICAR treatment increased GLUT4, cytochrome (cyt) c oxidase I, and (cyt) c protein expression ∼10-40% relative to saline in white muscles of WT but not of PGC-1α-KO mice, whereas fatty acid translocase/CD36 (FAT/CD36) protein expression was unaffected by AICAR treatment in both genotypes. GLUT4, cyt c, and FAT/CD36 mRNA content increased 30-60% 4 h after a single AICAR injection relative to saline in WT, and FAT/CD36 mRNA content decreased in PGC-1α-KO mice. One hour after a single AICAR treatment, phosphorylation of AMPK and the downstream target acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase increased in all muscles investigated independent of genotype, indicating normal AICAR-induced AMPK signaling in the absence of PGC-1α. The hexokinase II (HKII) mRNA and protein response was similar in muscles of WT and PGC-1α-KO mice after single and repeated AICAR treatments, respectively, confirming that HKII is regulated independently of PGC-1α in response to AICAR. In conclusion, here we provide genetic evidence for a role of PGC-1α in AMPK-mediated regulation of mitochondrial and glucose membrane transport protein expression in skeletal muscle.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume299
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)E456-E465
Number of pages10
ISSN0193-1849
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2010

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