Neurotoxicology
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AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-d-ribofuranoside, Acadesine, AICA riboside) is an activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). The results of recent studies suggest that AICAR, in addition to its application for treating metabolic disorders, may also have therapeutic potential for treating neuroinflammatory diseases where reactive microglia play an etiological role. However, the molecular mechanisms of action by which AICAR exerts its anti-inflammatory effects still remain unclear or controversial. ⋯ The presented evidence supports the conclusion that AMPK activated by AICAR is involved in regulation of ROS and cytokine production (IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha (6h), IL-10 and TGF-beta) as well as arginase I and PGC-1alpha expression. Furthermore, we found that the effects of AICAR on IL-6 and TNF-alpha (12, 24h) release and on the expression of iNOS and NF-kappaB p65 are not AMPK-dependent because the pre-treatment of LPS-activated microglia with compound C (a pharmacological inhibitor of AMPK) did not reverse the effect of AICAR. The results of the presented study provide additional data about AMPK-dependent and -independent mechanisms whereby AICAR may modulate inflammatory response of microglia.