Study summary · research use only
AICAr, a Widely Used AMPK Activator with Important AMPK-Independent Effects: A Systematic Review
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
This systematic review (species not specified) discusses AICAr (5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside), a widely used pharmacological activator of AMPK, and summarizes studies on its effects on metabolism, hypoxia, exercise, nucleotide synthesis, and cancer. The authors note that many early studies attributed AICAr's effects to AMPK activation, but describe a growing number of studies reporting that numerous AICAr effects are AMPK-independent. The review calls for caution when interpreting AICAr-based studies in the context of AMPK signaling.
Abstract
5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAr) has been one of the most commonly used pharmacological modulators of AMPK activity. The majority of early studies on the role of AMPK, both in the physiological regulation of metabolism and in cancer pathogenesis, were based solely on the use of AICAr as an AMPK-activator. Even with more complex models of AMPK downregulation and knockout being introduced, AICAr remained a regular starting point for many studies focusing on AMPK biology. However, there is an increasing number of studies showing that numerous AICAr effects, previously attributed to AMPK activation, are in fact AMPK-independent. This review aims to give an overview of the present knowledge on AMPK-dependent and AMPK-independent effects of AICAr on metabolism, hypoxia, exercise, nucleotide synthesis, and cancer, calling for caution in the interpretation of AICAr-based studies in the context of understanding AMPK signaling pathway.
pepmg summarizes the peer-reviewed literature and links to every source — it sells nothing, ships nothing, and gives no medical, dosing, or human-use guidance. Don't just trust this summary: follow the citation to its source and read it yourself. Research use only.