Current Evidences and Future Perspectives for AMPK in the Regulation of Milk Production and Mammary Gland Biology

Zhihui Wu; Min Tian; Jinghui Heng; Jiaming Chen; Fang Chen; Wutai Guan; Shihai Zhang

doi:10.3389/fcell.2020.00530

Current Evidences and Future Perspectives for AMPK in the Regulation of Milk Production and Mammary Gland Biology

Front Cell Dev Biol. 2020 Jun 26:8:530. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00530. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Zhihui Wu¹, Min Tian¹, Jinghui Heng¹, Jiaming Chen¹, Fang Chen^{1

2

3}, Wutai Guan^{1

2

3}, Shihai Zhang^{1

2

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
² College of Animal Science and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
³ Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
⁴ Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.

Abstract

Activated protein kinase (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) senses the cellular energy status and coordinates catabolic and anabolic processes. Extensive studies have proposed that AMPK regulates energy homeostasis, cell growth, autophagy, mitochondrial biology and inflammation. The biological functions of AMPK vary in different tissues or organs. As a unique organ that produces milk, the mammary gland has recently attracted substantial research attention. This review discusses how AMPK in the mammary gland is activated by energy deprivation and heat stress via the activation of canonical and non-canonical pathways. In addition, the important downstream targets of AMPK and their functions in the mammary gland, especially during milk synthesis, are summarized in the review.

Keywords: AMPK; lactose; mammary epithelial cells; milk fat; milk protein.

Publication types

Review