RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of AICAR on the activity of transcription factor FOXO1 and expression of ubiquitin ligase MuRF1 in rat cardiomyocytes, and explore the possible role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in proteolysis pathways.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In vitro cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes were treated with AICAR, and Western blotting was used to detect the phosphorylation of FOXO1 and expression of MuRF1 in the cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>AICAR activated AMPK in rat cardiac myocytes. Activated AMPK significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of FOXO1 and increased MuRF1 protein expression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AMPK may regulate proteolysis by activating FOXO1 transcription factor and up-regulating MuRF1 expression.</p>