Potentiation of neuronal insulin signaling and glucose uptake by resveratrol: the involvement of AMPK

Resveratrol (rsv),a polyphenolic phytoestrogen,has been shown to activate the serine/threonine kinase 5′-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (ampk) and to stimulate insulin signaling and glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells. a direct effect of rsv on neuronal insulin signaling,however,has not been demonstrated. here,we report that rsv stimulates glucose uptake and potentiates insulin signaling in neuro-2a (n2a) cells,which is characterized by the increased phosphorylation of protein kinase b (akt) and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (gsk-3β). furthermore,rsv activates ampk in n2acells,which can be prevented using a specific pharmacological inhibitor,compound c. compound c abrogates rsv-induced akt and gsk-3β phosphorylation and glucose uptake. thus,we demonstrate that rsv potentiates insulin signaling and glucose uptake via ampk activation in neuronal cells. copyright © 2011 by institute od pharmacology polish academy of sciences.