Glucose-free conditions induce the expression of AMPK in dental pulp cells

This study is aimed to test whether glucose-free conditions induce the activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and, to investigate association with AMPK expression and cell viability in human dental pulp cells.

Human dental pulp cells were initially maintained in culture medium containing glucose and the medium was subsequently changed to glucose-free medium. To evaluate the expression of AMPK, quantitative real-time RT-PCR, Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence were carried out. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay.

The expression of AMPK mRNA in glucose free conditions was 2.0-2.5 fold higher than the control at 1, 2 and 3 h (P<0.01). The expression of phosphorylated-AMPK was characterized by Western blot analysis and by immunofluorescence. Compound C-pre-treated group showed a decline of both AMPK expression and cell viability, while AICAR-pre-treated group showed an increase of AMPK and maintain of cell viability at regular level.

AMPK plays an important role on fluctuating in accordance with glucose availability and protects cell viability from glucose free condition in human dental pulp cells.