CaMKKβ Is Involved in AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Activation by Baicalin in LKB1 Deficient Cell Lines

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays an important role in mediating energy metabolism and is controlled mainly by two upstream kinases, LKB1 or Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase-beta (CaMKK beta). Previously, we found that baicalin, one of the major flavonoids in a traditional Chinese herb medicine, Scutellaria baicalensis, protects against the development of hepatic steatosis in rats feeding with a high-fat diet by the activation of AMPK, but, the underlying mechanism for AMPK activation is unknown. Here we show that in two LKB1-deficient cells, HeLa and A549 cells, baicalin activates AMPK by alpha Thr-172 phosphorylation and subsequent phosphorylation of its downstream target, acetyl CoA carboxylase, at Ser-79, to a similar degree as does in HepG2 cells (that express LKB1). Pharmacologic inhibition of CaMKK beta by its selective inhibitor STO-609 markedly inhibits baicalin-induced AMPK activation in both HeLa and HepG2 cells, indicating that CaMKK beta is the responsible AMPK kinase. We also show that treatment of baicalin causes a larger increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+](i)), although the maximal level of [Ca2+](i) is lower in HepG2 cells compared to HeLa cells. Chelation of intracellular free Ca2+ by EDTA and EGTA, or depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores by the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin abrogates baicalin-induced activation of AMPK in HeLa cells. Neither cellular ATP nor the production of reactive oxygen species is altered by baicalin. Finally, in HeLa cells, baicalin treatment no longer decreases intracellular lipid accumulation caused by oleic acid after inhibition of CaMKK beta by STO-609. These results demonstrate that a potential Ca2+/CaMKK beta dependent pathway is involved in the activation of AMPK by baicalin and suggest that CaMKK beta likely acts as an upstream kinase of AMPK in response to baicalin.