Dissecting the role of AMP-activated protein kinase in human diseases

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has been identified as an attractive therapeutic target for cancer, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and neurodegenerative disease. This review summarizes and updates the paradoxical role of AMPK implicated in these human diseases and put forward the challenge encountered.326