Title:AMPK and its Activator Berberine in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Volume: 26
Issue: 39
Author(s): Siru Qin, Huiling Tang, Wei Li, Yinan Gong, Shanshan Li, Jin Huang, Yuxin Fang, Wenjuan Yuan, Yangyang Liu, Shenjun Wang, Yongming Guo, Yi Guo*Zhifang Xu*
Affiliation:
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin,China
- Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin,China
Keywords:
Neurodegenerative diseases, AMPK, berberine, oxidative stress, mitochondrial disorder, glutamate excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation,
apoptosis.
Abstract: Neurodegenerative disorders are heterogeneous diseases associated with either acute or progressive
neurodegeneration, causing the loss of neurons and axons in the central nervous system (CNS), showing high
morbidity and mortality, and there are only a few effective therapies. Here, we summarized that the energy sensor
adenosine 5‘-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and its agonist berberine can combat the
common underlying pathological events of neurodegeneration, including oxidative stress, neuroinflammation,
mitochondrial disorder, glutamate excitotoxicity, apoptosis, autophagy disorder, and disruption of neurovascular
units. The abovementioned effects of berberine may primarily depend on activating AMPK and its downstream
targets, such as the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), sirtuin1 (SIRT1), nuclear factor erythroid-2 related
factor-2 (Nrf2), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), nicotinamide
adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK). It is hoped that this review
will provide a strong basis for further scientific exploration and development of berberine's therapeutic potential
against neurodegeneration.
