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Arezoumand KS, Roberts CT, Rastegar M. Metformin Induces MeCP2 in the Hippocampus of Male Mice with Sex-Specific and Brain-Region-Dependent Molecular Impact. Biomolecules 2024; 14:505. [PMID: 38672521 PMCID: PMC11048179 DOI: 10.3390/biom14040505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Rett Syndrome (RTT) is a progressive X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder with no cure. RTT patients show disease-associated symptoms within 18 months of age that include developmental regression, progressive loss of useful hand movements, and breathing difficulties, along with neurological impairments, seizures, tremor, and mental disability. Rett Syndrome is also associated with metabolic abnormalities, and the anti-diabetic drug metformin is suggested to be a potential drug of choice with low or no side-effects. Previously, we showed that in vitro exposure of metformin in a human brain cell line induces MECP2E1 transcripts, the dominant isoform of the MECP2 gene in the brain, mutations in which causes RTT. Here, we report the molecular impact of metformin in mice. Protein analysis of specific brain regions in the male and female mice by immunoblotting indicated that metformin induces MeCP2 in the hippocampus, in a sex-dependent manner. Additional experiments confirm that the regulatory role of metformin on the MeCP2 target "BDNF" is brain region-dependent and sex-specific. Measurement of the ribosomal protein S6 (in both phosphorylated and unphosphorylated forms) confirms the sex-dependent role of metformin in the liver. Our results can help foster a better understanding of the molecular impact of metformin in different brain regions of male and female adult mice, while providing some insight towards its potential in therapeutic strategies for the treatment of Rett Syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mojgan Rastegar
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
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Froldi G. View on Metformin: Antidiabetic and Pleiotropic Effects, Pharmacokinetics, Side Effects, and Sex-Related Differences. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:478. [PMID: 38675438 PMCID: PMC11054066 DOI: 10.3390/ph17040478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Metformin is a synthetic biguanide used as an antidiabetic drug in type 2 diabetes mellitus, achieved by studying the bioactive metabolites of Galega officinalis L. It is also used off-label for various other diseases, such as subclinical diabetes, obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome, etc. In addition, metformin is proposed as an add-on therapy for several conditions, including autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Although metformin has been used for many decades, it is still the subject of many pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic studies in light of its extensive use. Metformin acts at the mitochondrial level by inhibiting the respiratory chain, thus increasing the AMP/ATP ratio and, subsequently, activating the AMP-activated protein kinase. However, several other mechanisms have been proposed, including binding to presenilin enhancer 2, increasing GLP1 release, and modification of microRNA expression. Regarding its pharmacokinetics, after oral administration, metformin is absorbed, distributed, and eliminated, mainly through the renal route, using transporters for cationic solutes, since it exists as an ionic molecule at physiological pH. In this review, particular consideration has been paid to literature data from the last 10 years, deepening the study of clinical trials inherent to new uses of metformin, the differences in effectiveness and safety observed between the sexes, and the unwanted side effects. For this last objective, metformin safety was also evaluated using both VigiBase and EudraVigilance, respectively, the WHO and European databases of the reported adverse drug reactions, to assess the extent of metformin side effects in real-life use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guglielmina Froldi
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
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Hosseini SM, Borys B, Karimi-Abdolrezaee S. Neural stem cell therapies for spinal cord injury repair: an update on recent preclinical and clinical advances. Brain 2024; 147:766-793. [PMID: 37975820 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a leading cause of lifelong disabilities. Permanent sensory, motor and autonomic impairments after SCI are substantially attributed to degeneration of spinal cord neurons and axons, and disintegration of neural network. To date, minimal regenerative treatments are available for SCI with an unmet need for new therapies to reconstruct the damaged spinal cord neuron-glia network and restore connectivity with the supraspinal pathways. Multipotent neural precursor cells (NPCs) have a unique capacity to generate neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. Due to this capacity, NPCs have been an attractive cell source for cellular therapies for SCI. Transplantation of NPCs has been extensively tested in preclinical models of SCI in the past two decades. These studies have identified opportunities and challenges associated with NPC therapies. While NPCs have the potential to promote neuroregeneration through various mechanisms, their low long-term survival and integration within the host injured spinal cord limit the functional benefits of NPC-based therapies for SCI. To address this challenge, combinatorial strategies have been developed to optimize the outcomes of NPC therapies by enriching SCI microenvironment through biomaterials, genetic and pharmacological therapies. In this review, we will provide an in-depth discussion on recent advances in preclinical NPC-based therapies for SCI. We will discuss modes of actions and mechanism by which engrafted NPCs contribute to the repair process and functional recovery. We will also provide an update on current clinical trials and new technologies that have facilitated preparation of medical-grade human NPCs suitable for transplantation in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Mojtaba Hosseini
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Spinal Cord Research Centre, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada
- Manitoba Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - Ben Borys
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Spinal Cord Research Centre, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - Soheila Karimi-Abdolrezaee
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Spinal Cord Research Centre, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada
- Manitoba Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3P4, Canada
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Gilbert EAB, Livingston J, Flores EG, Khan M, Kandavel H, Morshead CM. Metformin treatment reduces inflammation, dysmyelination and disease severity in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Brain Res 2024; 1822:148648. [PMID: 37890574 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation, death or damage of oligodendrocytes, and axonal degeneration. Current MS treatments are non-curative, associated with undesired side-effects, and expensive, highlighting the need for expanded therapeutic options for patients. There is great interest in developing interventions using drugs or therapeutics to reduce symptom onset and protect pre-existing myelin. Metformin is a well-tolerated drug used to treat Type 2 diabetes that has pleiotropic effects in the central nervous system (CNS), including reducing inflammation, enhancing oligodendrogenesis, increasing the survival/proliferation of neural stem cells (NSCs), and increasing myelination. Here, we investigated whether metformin administration could improve functional outcomes, modulate oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), and reduce inflammation in a well-established mouse model of MS- experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Male and female mice received metformin treatment at the time of EAE induction ("acute") or upon presentation of disease symptoms ("delayed"). We found that acute metformin treatment improved functional outcomes, concomitant with reduced microglia numbers and decreased dysmyelination. Conversely, delayed metformin treatment did not improve functional outcomes. Our findings reveal that metformin administration can improve EAE outcomes when administered before symptom onset in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A B Gilbert
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S1A8, Canada; Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S3E1, Canada
| | - Jessica Livingston
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S1A8, Canada; Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S3E1, Canada
| | - Emilio Garcia Flores
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S3E1, Canada
| | - Monoleena Khan
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S1A8, Canada; Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S3E1, Canada
| | - Harini Kandavel
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S1A8, Canada; Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S3E1, Canada
| | - Cindi M Morshead
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S1A8, Canada; Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S3E1, Canada; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S3E1, Canada; Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S1A8, Canada.
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Zhang JY, Xiao J, Xie B, Barba H, Boachie-Mensah M, Shah RN, Nadeem U, Spedale M, Dylla N, Lin H, Sidebottom AM, D'Souza M, Theriault B, Sulakhe D, Chang EB, Skondra D. Oral Metformin Inhibits Choroidal Neovascularization by Modulating the Gut-Retina Axis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2023; 64:21. [PMID: 38108689 PMCID: PMC10732090 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.64.15.21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Emerging data indicate that metformin may prevent the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Whereas the underlying mechanisms of metformin's anti-aging properties remain undetermined, one proposed avenue is the gut microbiome. Using the laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) model, we investigate the effects of oral metformin on CNV, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/choroid transcriptome, and gut microbiota. Methods Specific pathogen free (SPF) male mice were treated via daily oral gavage of metformin 300 mg/kg or vehicle. Male mice were selected to minimize sex-specific differences to laser induction and response to metformin. Laser-induced CNV size and macrophage/microglial infiltration were assessed by isolectin and Iba1 immunostaining. High-throughput RNA-seq of the RPE/choroid was performed using Illumina. Fecal pellets were analyzed for gut microbiota composition/pathways with 16S rRNA sequencing/shotgun metagenomics, as well as microbial-derived metabolites, including small-chain fatty acids and bile acids. Investigation was repeated in metformin-treated germ-free (GF) mice and antibiotic-treated/GF mice receiving fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from metformin-treated SPF mice. Results Metformin treatment reduced CNV size (P < 0.01) and decreased Iba1+ macrophage/microglial infiltration (P < 0.005). One hundred forty-five differentially expressed genes were identified in the metformin-treated group (P < 0.05) with a downregulation in pro-angiogenic genes Tie1, Pgf, and Gata2. Furthermore, metformin altered the gut microbiome in favor of Bifidobacterium and Akkermansia, with a significant increase in fecal levels of butyrate, succinate, and cholic acid. Metformin did not suppress CNV in GF mice but colonization of microbiome-depleted mice with metformin-derived FMT suppressed CNV. Conclusions These data suggest that oral metformin suppresses CNV, the hallmark lesion of advanced neovascular AMD, via gut microbiome modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Y. Zhang
- Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Jason Xiao
- Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Bingqing Xie
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Hugo Barba
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | | | - Rohan N. Shah
- Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Urooba Nadeem
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Melanie Spedale
- Animal Resources Center, University of Chicago, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Nicholas Dylla
- Duchossois Family Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Huaiying Lin
- Duchossois Family Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Ashley M. Sidebottom
- Duchossois Family Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Mark D'Souza
- Duchossois Family Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Betty Theriault
- Animal Resources Center, University of Chicago, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Dinanath Sulakhe
- Duchossois Family Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Eugene B. Chang
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Duchossois Family Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Dimitra Skondra
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
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