Metabolic regulation by the intestinal metformin-AMPK axis

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) mediates the glucose-lowering effect of the antidiabetic agent metformin, but the sites of action remain unclear. In the March issue of Nature Communications, Zhang and colleagues reported that intestinal epithelium-specific AMPK alpha 1 knockout mice fail to respond to metformin and exhibit disruption in metabolic homeostasis secondary to changes in the gut microbiome. This highlights a therapeutic potential of targeting intestinal AMPK for diabetes.

Automated summary

A study found that intestinal epithelium-specific AMPK alpha 1 knockout mice do not respond to metformin and exhibit disruptions in metabolic homeostasis due to changes in the gut microbiome. This highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting intestinal AMPK for diabetes.