Aims/hypothesis Although targeted in extrapancreatic tissues by several drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes, the role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the control of insulin secretion is still debatable. Previous studies have used pharmacological activators of limited selectivity and specificity, and none has examined in primary pancreatic beta cells the actions of the latest generation of highly potent and specific activators that act via the allosteric drug and metabolite (ADaM) site.

Methods AMPK was activated acutely in islets isolated from C57BL6/J mice, and in an EndoC-beta H3 cell line, using three structurally distinct ADaM site activators (991, PF-06409577 and RA089), with varying selectivity for beta 1- vs beta 2-containing complexes. Mouse lines expressing a gain-of-function mutation in the gamma 1 AMPK subunit (D316a) were generated to examine the effects of chronic AMPK stimulation in the whole body, or selectively in the beta cell.

Results Acute (1.5 h) treatment of wild-type mouse islets with 991, PF-06409577 or RA089 robustly stimulated insulin secretion at high glucose concentrations (p

Conclusions/interpretation AMPK activation exerts complex, time-dependent effects on insulin secretion. These observations should inform the design and future clinical use of AMPK modulators.