The activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an approach used in the treatment of obesity-associated disorders such as type 2 diabetes mellitus. Attané and colleagues have shown, for the first time, that apelin stimulates AMPK phosphorylation in human adipose tissue in a study on 30 healthy females. Administration of apelin had no effect on lipolysis but was shown to stimulate glucose uptake in a dose-dependent manner in human adipose tissue explants. Since apelin activates AMPK, the apelin/APJ receptor system may well be a promising therapeutic target for obesity-associated disorders. Attané et al. (2011) Journal of Molecular Endocrinology 46 21-28.

Read the full article at DOI: 10.1677/JME-10-0105.