AMPK : Accumulating Evidence in Support of its role in Dual Regulation of Vascular Function and Metabolism During Human Pregnancy
Year: 2025
Type: review
Abstract: Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) serves to match perfusion with metabolism. Since pregnancy necessitates significant changes in both perfusion and metabolism for supporting fetal growth, surprising is that AMPK has received scant attention during pregnancy, perhaps due to the complexity of its actions and multiple maternal, placental, and fetal targets. Here we review human as well as experimental animal studies documenting AMPK activation's broad-ranging maternal effects. Emphasized are those affecting vascular control and blood flow to the uteroplacental circulation under conditions of chronic hypoxia. Time and dosage-dependent effects on the placenta and the fetus are also reviewed, revealing that AMPK activation affects all three-maternal, placental, and fetal-pregnancy compartments. We point to the need for an integrated study of AMPK's effects in each compartment during normal as well as fetal growth-restricted (FGR) pregnancies. Since there are currently no therapies for FGR apart from early delivery, whereas there are drugs or nutritional substances activating AMPK approved for human use, such agents may represent new treatments. However, understanding their molecular mechanisms and specific actions in pregnancy compartments is required before conducting such trials.
Source: Acta Physiologica
DOI: 10.1111/apha.70093
Language: English
Subfield: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: Epigenetic and Fetal Origins of Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension, Genetic Regulation of Hypoxia-Induced IUGR, Effects of chronic hypoxia and AMPK activation on uteroplacental perfusion, placental metabolism and the regulation of fetal growth, Colorado Nutrition Obesity Research Center, Insulin and nutrient actions in the FGR fetal liver
OpenAlex ID: W4413306851