Page 7 - ITPS-8-2

INNOSC Theranostics

and Pharmacological Sciences

REVIEW ARTICLE
The role of AMPK activation in metabolic

regulation, energy homeostasis and aging: A
comprehensive overview

George Jîtcă*

Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade
University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mureş, 540139 Târgu Mureş,
Romania

Abstract
5’ Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a metabolic
sensor responsible for maintaining homeostasis, regulating metabolic control,
monitoring energy status, and balancing energy production with consumption.
The most important protein kinases that activate AMPK are liver kinase B1 and
calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase. AMPK significantly impacts physical
performance by accelerating recovery periods and restoring energy stores through
several key mechanisms. It regulates muscle glycogen content, ensuring readily
available energy during physical exertion. In addition, a high number of mitochondria
*Corresponding author: enable the utilization of fatty acids as an energy source, thereby improving endurance
George Jîtcă efforts. Furthermore, rich vascularization in the muscles enhances the delivery of
(george.jitca@umfst.ro) nutrients and oxygen, optimizing performance and speeding up recovery. AMPK is
Citation: Jîtcă G. The role of AMPK also important for maintaining muscle homeostasis. It decreases insulin resistance,
activation in metabolic regulation, stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis, and exerts an antioxidant effect. As a regulator
energy homeostasis, and aging: A of energy homeostasis, AMPK plays a key role in linking cellular energy levels with the
comprehensive overview. INNOSC
Theranostics and Pharmacological aging process. It acts as a modulator of cellular senescence and has the potential to
Sciences. 2025;8(2):1-15. extend life expectancy, particularly in the context of caloric restriction. By activating
doi: 10.36922/itps.4852 AMPK, caloric restriction (activated with a 30 – 70% reduction in nutrient intake)
Received: September 14, 2024 helps to maintain energy balance in cells, which may slow down aging and support
1st revised: November 16, 2024 healthier cellular function over time. In conclusion, the involvement of AMPK in
metabolic regulation and maintenance makes it an important therapeutic target for
2nd revised: December 13, 2024 the treatment and prevention of several diseases, both age-related and otherwise.
Accepted: December 16, 2024
Published online: December 31, Keywords: AMPK; Oxidative stress; Physical effort; Exercise; Metabolism
2024
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s).
This is an Open-Access article
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution 1. A short overview of AMPK
License, permitting distribution,
and reproduction in any medium, With advances in medicine, life expectancy has significantly increased. These advances
provided the original work is are attributed to the emergence of the concept of personalized medicine and the
properly cited. development of new pharmacological agents, all aimed to improve quality of life, prolong
Publisher’s Note: AccScience life expectancy, and enhance physical condition. The purpose of the present review is
Publishing remains neutral with to highlight the role of 5’ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional in certain processes (carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, autophagy, mitochondrial
affiliations. biogenesis, oxidative stress), and to explore how these mechanisms benefit athletes.

Volume 8 Issue 2 (2025) 1 doi: 10.36922/itps.4852