Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39918244›Full record

ArticleThe FEBS journal2025

Activating AMPK improves pathological phenotypes due to mtDNA depletion.

Gustavo Carvalho, Tran V H Nguyen, Bruno Repolês, Josefin M E Forslund, W M Ruchitha Rukmal Wijethunga, Farahnaz Ranjbarian, Isabela C Mendes, Choco Michael Gorospe, Namrata Chaudhari, Micol Falabella and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The FEBS journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Gustavo CarvalhoDepartment of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-3827-4619
Tran V H NguyenDepartment of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Bruno RepolêsDepartment of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Josefin M E ForslundDepartment of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
W M Ruchitha Rukmal WijethungaDepartment of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Farahnaz RanjbarianDepartment of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Isabela C MendesDepartment of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Choco Michael GorospeDepartment of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Namrata ChaudhariDepartment of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Micol FalabellaDepartment of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
Mara DoimoClinical Genetics Unit, Department of Women and Children's Health, Padua University, Padua, Italy.
Sjoerd WanrooijDepartment of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Robert D S PitceathlyDepartment of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
Anders HoferDepartment of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Paulina H WanrooijDepartment of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-8607-7564

Funding

Åke Wiberg Stiftelse M20-0132Cancerfonden 19 0022 JIACancerfonden 22 2381 PjKnut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse KAW 2021.0053Medical Research Council MC_PC_21046Medical Research Council MR/S002065/1Medical Research Council MR/S005021/1Svenska Sällskapet för Medicinsk Forskning S17-0023Vetenskapsrådet 2019-01874
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a master regulator of cellular energy homeostasis that also plays a role in preserving mitochondrial function and integrity. Upon a disturbance in the cellular energy state that increases AMP levels, AMPK activity promotes a switch from anabolic to catabolic metabolism to restore energy homeostasis. However, the level of severity of mitochondrial dysfunction required to trigger AMPK activation is currently unclear, as is whether stimulation of AMPK using specific agonists can improve the cellular phenotype following mitochondrial dysfunction. Using a cellular model of mitochondrial disease characterized by progressive mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) depletion and deteriorating mitochondrial metabolism, we show that mitochondria-associated AMPK becomes activated early in the course of the advancing mitochondrial dysfunction, before any quantifiable decrease in the ATP/(AMP + ADP) ratio or respiratory chain activity. Moreover, stimulation of AMPK activity using the specific small-molecule agonist A-769662 alleviated the mitochondrial phenotypes caused by the mtDNA depletion and restored normal mitochondrial membrane potential. Notably, the agonist treatment was able to partially restore mtDNA levels in cells with severe mtDNA depletion, while it had no impact on mtDNA levels of control cells. The beneficial impact of the agonist on mitochondrial membrane potential was also observed in cells from patients suffering from mtDNA depletion. These findings improve our understanding of the effects of specific small-molecule activators of AMPK on mitochondrial and cellular function and suggest a potential application for these compounds in disease states involving mtDNA depletion.

Indexed as

AMP-Activated Protein KinasesDNA, MitochondrialMitochondriaMitochondrial DiseasesThiophenesAdenosine TriphosphateBiphenyl CompoundsEnzyme ActivationHumansMembrane Potential, MitochondrialPhenotypePyrones4-hydroxy-3-(4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)phenyl)-6-oxo-7H-thieno(2,3-b)pyridine-5-carbonitrileAdenosine TriphosphateAMP-Activated Protein KinasesBiphenyl CompoundsDNA, MitochondrialPyronesThiophenesAMP‐activated protein kinaseAMPKmitochondrial DNA depletionpolymerase ɣ

Identifiers

PMID39918244
PMCPMC12062783

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.