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Chang W, Li W, Li P. The anti-diabetic effects of metformin are mediated by regulating long non-coding RNA. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1256705. [PMID: 38053839 PMCID: PMC10694297 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1256705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a metabolic disease with complex etiology and mechanisms. Long non-coding ribonucleic acid (LncRNA) is a novel class of functional long RNA molecules that regulate multiple biological functions through various mechanisms. Studies in the past decade have shown that lncRNAs may play an important role in regulating insulin resistance and the progression of T2D. As a widely used biguanide drug, metformin has been used for glucose lowering effects in clinical practice for more than 60 years. For diabetic therapy, metformin reduces glucose absorption from the intestines, lowers hepatic gluconeogenesis, reduces inflammation, and improves insulin sensitivity. However, despite being widely used as the first-line oral antidiabetic drug, its mechanism of action remains largely elusive. Currently, an increasing number of studies have demonstrated that the anti-diabetic effects of metformin were mediated by the regulation of lncRNAs. Metformin-regulated lncRNAs have been shown to participate in the inhibition of gluconeogenesis, regulation of lipid metabolism, and be anti-inflammatory. Thus, this review focuses on the mechanisms of action of metformin in regulating lncRNAs in diabetes, including pathways altered by metformin via targeting lncRNAs, and the potential targets of metformin through modulation of lncRNAs. Knowledge of the mechanisms of lncRNA modulation by metformin in diabetes will aid the development of new therapeutic drugs for T2D in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenguang Chang
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wei Li
- College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Peifeng Li
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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2
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Maurer J, Zhao X, Irmler M, Gudiksen A, Pilmark NS, Li Q, Goj T, Beckers J, Hrabě de Angelis M, Birkenfeld AL, Peter A, Lehmann R, Pilegaard H, Karstoft K, Xu G, Weigert C. Redox state and altered pyruvate metabolism contribute to a dose-dependent metformin-induced lactate production of human myotubes. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2023; 325:C1131-C1143. [PMID: 37694284 PMCID: PMC10635655 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00186.2023] [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: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Metformin-induced glycolysis and lactate production can lead to acidosis as a life-threatening side effect, but slight increases in blood lactate levels in a physiological range were also reported in metformin-treated patients. However, how metformin increases systemic lactate concentrations is only partly understood. Because human skeletal muscle has a high capacity to produce lactate, the aim was to elucidate the dose-dependent regulation of metformin-induced lactate production and the potential contribution of skeletal muscle to blood lactate levels under metformin treatment. This was examined by using metformin treatment (16-776 μM) of primary human myotubes and by 17 days of metformin treatment in humans. As from 78 µM, metformin induced lactate production and secretion and glucose consumption. Investigating the cellular redox state by mitochondrial respirometry, we found metformin to inhibit the respiratory chain complex I (776 µM, P < 0.01) along with decreasing the [NAD+]:[NADH] ratio (776 µM, P < 0.001). RNA sequencing and phospho-immunoblot data indicate inhibition of pyruvate oxidation mediated through phosphorylation of the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex (39 µM, P < 0.01). On the other hand, in human skeletal muscle, phosphorylation of PDH was not altered by metformin. Nonetheless, blood lactate levels were increased under metformin treatment (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the findings suggest that metformin-induced inhibition of pyruvate oxidation combined with altered cellular redox state shifts the equilibrium of the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) reaction leading to a dose-dependent lactate production in primary human myotubes.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Metformin shifts the equilibrium of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) reaction by low dose-induced phosphorylation of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) resulting in inhibition of pyruvate oxidation and high dose-induced increase in NADH, which explains the dose-dependent lactate production of differentiated human skeletal muscle cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Maurer
- Department for Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Xinjie Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China
| | - Martin Irmler
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Anders Gudiksen
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nanna S Pilmark
- Centre for Physical Activity Research (CFAS), Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Qi Li
- Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China
| | - Thomas Goj
- Department for Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Johannes Beckers
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair of Experimental Genetics, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Martin Hrabě de Angelis
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair of Experimental Genetics, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Andreas L Birkenfeld
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases, Helmholtz Munich, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Peter
- Department for Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases, Helmholtz Munich, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Rainer Lehmann
- Department for Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases, Helmholtz Munich, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Henriette Pilegaard
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristian Karstoft
- Centre for Physical Activity Research (CFAS), Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Bispebjerg and Fredriksberg Hospital, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Guowang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China
| | - Cora Weigert
- Department for Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases, Helmholtz Munich, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Liu J, Wang D, Xie Z, Ding L, Li S, Ma X, Liu J, Ren J, Xiao C, Yang C, Xiao X. Combination of Pioglitazone and Metformin Actions on Liver Lipid Metabolism in Obese Mice. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1199. [PMID: 37627267 PMCID: PMC10452643 DOI: 10.3390/biom13081199] [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: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the increasing prevalence rate of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) worldwide, efficient pharmacotherapeutic regimens against NAFLD still need to be explored. Previous studies found that pioglitazone and metformin therapy could partly ameliorate NAFLD, but their combination therapy effects have not been researched. In the present study, we assessed the protective effects of metformin and pioglitazone combination therapy on liver lipid metabolism in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice and investigated the molecular mechanism. METHODS Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into five groups: normal control; HFD control; metformin monotherapy; pioglitazone monotherapy and combined therapy. After 8 weeks of pharmacological intervention, glucose and lipid metabolism characteristics, hepatic histology, lipidomics profiling and RNA-seq analysis were performed. RESULTS The combination of pioglitazone and metformin significantly ameliorated HFD-induced metabolic disturbance and the hepatic oil red O area. A lipidomics analysis showed that combined therapy could significantly reduce the high levels of free fatty acids (FFA), diacylglycerol and triglycerides, while a set of glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids were increased in the combined therapy group. Consistently, an RNA-seq analysis also showed a remarkable reduction in genes associated with FFA uptake and de novo lipogenesis, including Cd36, Fads1, Fads2, Fasn, Scd1, Elovl5 and Pklr in the combined therapy group. CONCLUSIONS Pioglitazone and metformin might have a synergistic protective effect on NAFLD by improving hepatic lipid profiles in HFD-induced mice. Further studies are needed to verify the clinical effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieying Liu
- Department of Endocrinology, NHC Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; (J.L.); (D.W.)
- Department of Medical Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Dongmei Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, NHC Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; (J.L.); (D.W.)
| | - Ziyan Xie
- Department of Endocrinology, NHC Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; (J.L.); (D.W.)
| | - Lu Ding
- Department of Endocrinology, NHC Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; (J.L.); (D.W.)
| | - Shunhua Li
- Department of Endocrinology, NHC Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; (J.L.); (D.W.)
| | - Xuemei Ma
- Department of Endocrinology, NHC Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; (J.L.); (D.W.)
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Endocrinology, NHC Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; (J.L.); (D.W.)
| | - Jing Ren
- Department of Endocrinology, NHC Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; (J.L.); (D.W.)
| | - Cheng Xiao
- Department of Endocrinology, NHC Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; (J.L.); (D.W.)
| | - Chunru Yang
- Department of Endocrinology, NHC Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; (J.L.); (D.W.)
| | - Xinhua Xiao
- Department of Endocrinology, NHC Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; (J.L.); (D.W.)
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Régnier M, Carbinatti T, Parlati L, Benhamed F, Postic C. The role of ChREBP in carbohydrate sensing and NAFLD development. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2023; 19:336-349. [PMID: 37055547 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-023-00809-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Excessive sugar consumption and defective glucose sensing by hepatocytes contribute to the development of metabolic diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Hepatic metabolism of carbohydrates into lipids is largely dependent on the carbohydrate-responsive element binding protein (ChREBP), a transcription factor that senses intracellular carbohydrates and activates many different target genes, through the activation of de novo lipogenesis (DNL). This process is crucial for the storage of energy as triglycerides in hepatocytes. Furthermore, ChREBP and its downstream targets represent promising targets for the development of therapies for the treatment of NAFLD and T2DM. Although lipogenic inhibitors (for example, inhibitors of fatty acid synthase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase or ATP citrate lyase) are currently under investigation, targeting lipogenesis remains a topic of discussion for NAFLD treatment. In this Review, we discuss mechanisms that regulate ChREBP activity in a tissue-specific manner and their respective roles in controlling DNL and beyond. We also provide in-depth discussion of the roles of ChREBP in the onset and progression of NAFLD and consider emerging targets for NAFLD therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Régnier
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France.
| | - Thaïs Carbinatti
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Lucia Parlati
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Fadila Benhamed
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Postic
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France.
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5
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Zhu W, Ding C, Huang P, Ran J, Lian P, Tang Y, Dai W, Huang X. Metformin Ameliorates Hepatic Steatosis induced by olanzapine through inhibiting LXRα/PCSK9 pathway. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5639. [PMID: 35379885 PMCID: PMC8979948 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09610-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies have confirmed that olanzapine, the mainstay treatment for schizophrenia, triggers metabolic diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the etiology of olanzapine-induced NAFLD is poorly understood. Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is involved in NAFLD pathogenesis, and metformin can significantly decrease circulating PCSK9. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of PCSK9 and explore the therapeutic effect of metformin for olanzapine-associated NAFLD. Olanzapine significantly upregulated PCSK9 and promoted lipid accumulation in mouse livers and HepG2 and AML12 cells. Metformin ameliorated these pathological alterations. PCSK9 upstream regulator liver X receptor α (LXRα) was significantly upregulated in olanzapine-induced NAFLD. LXRα antagonist treatment and LXRα overexpression resulted in a decrease and increase of PCSK9, respectively. Hepatic lipogenesis-associated genes FAS and SCD1 were significantly upregulated in olanzapine-induced NAFLD mice and HepG2 cells overexpressing PCSK9, and genes related to lipid β-oxidation (SCAD and PPARα) were downregulated, while metformin reversed these changes. In addition, we found that LXRα overexpression compromised the effect of metformin on PCSK9 levels and intracellular lipid droplet formation. Taken together, our findings suggest that olanzapine enhances hepatic PCSK9 expression by upregulating LXRα, thereby increasing FAS and SCD1 expression as well as decreasing SCAD and PPARα, and promoting lipid accumulation, and, subsequently, NAFLD, which is ameliorated by metformin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqiang Zhu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Chen Ding
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Piaopiao Huang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Juanli Ran
- Department of Stomatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Pingan Lian
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Yaxin Tang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Wen Dai
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China.,Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Xiansheng Huang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China.
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6
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Tsumura Y, Tsushima Y, Tamura A, Kato H, Kobayashi T. Disruptions in hepatic glucose metabolism are involved in the diminished efficacy after chronic treatment with glucokinase activator. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265761. [PMID: 35312718 PMCID: PMC8936481 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucokinase activators are regarded as potent candidates for diabetes treatment, however, in clinical studies on patients with type 2 diabetes, a diminishing efficacy was observed after chronic treatment with them. The mechanism of this reduction has not been elucidated, and whether it is a class effect of glucokinase activators remains inconclusive. Here, we firstly identified a diabetic animal model that shows the diminished efficacy after long-term treatment with MK-0941, a glucokinase activator that exhibited diminished efficacy in a clinical study, and we analyzed the mechanism underlying its diminished efficacy. In addition, we evaluated the long-term efficacy of another glucokinase activator, TMG-123. Goto-Kakizaki rats were treated with MK-0941 and TMG-123 for 24 weeks. The results showed that glycated hemoglobin A1C levels and plasma glucose levels decreased transiently but increased over time with the continuation of treatment in the MK-0941-treated group, while decreased continuously in the TMG-123-treated group. Only in the TMG-123-treated group, higher plasma insulin levels were shown at the later stage of the treatment period. For the mechanism analysis, we conducted a hepatic enzyme assay and liver perfusion study in Goto-Kakizaki rats after chronic treatment with MK-0941 and TMG-123, and revealed that, only in the MK-0941-treated group, the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase was increased, and hepatic glucose utilization was decreased compared to the non-treated group. These data indicate that disruptions in hepatic glucose metabolism are involved in the diminished efficacy of glucokinase activators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshinori Tsumura
- Pharmacology Research Department, Teijin Institute for Bio-medical Research, Teijin Pharma Limited, Hino, Tokyo, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Yu Tsushima
- Pharmacology Research Department, Teijin Institute for Bio-medical Research, Teijin Pharma Limited, Hino, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Azusa Tamura
- Pharmacology Research Department, Teijin Institute for Bio-medical Research, Teijin Pharma Limited, Hino, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirotsugu Kato
- Pharmacology Research Department, Teijin Institute for Bio-medical Research, Teijin Pharma Limited, Hino, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsunefumi Kobayashi
- Pharmacology Research Department, Teijin Institute for Bio-medical Research, Teijin Pharma Limited, Hino, Tokyo, Japan
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7
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Khodadadi M, Jafari-Gharabaghlou D, Zarghami N. An update on mode of action of metformin in modulation of meta-inflammation and inflammaging. Pharmacol Rep 2022; 74:310-322. [PMID: 35067907 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-021-00334-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most common chronic metabolic condition. Several genetic and environmental factors are involved in developing T2DM. Aging, inflammation, and obesity are the main contributors to the initiation of T2DM. They cause chronic sterile meta-inflammation and insulin resistance, thereby making a person more susceptible to developing T2DM. Metformin, a natural cationic biguanide, is widely used as the first-line treatment of T2DM. The exact action mechanism behind the glucose-lowering effect of metformin is not clear, but, presumably, metformin utilizes a broad spectrum of molecular mechanisms to control blood glucose including decreasing intestinal glucose absorption, inhibition of the hepatic gluconeogenesis, decreasing insulin resistance, etc. Recent studies have shown that metformin exerts its effects through the inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex 1 and the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation, but it has been identified in the other studies that AMPK is not the sole hub in metformin mode of action or there are other unknown mechanisms which are involved and yet to be explored. Therefore, here, we discuss the updated findings of the mechanism of action of metformin that contributes to the meta-inflammation and inflammaging action. It is proposed that figuring out the precise mechanism of action of metformin could improve its application in the fields of obesity, inflammation, aging, and inflammaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meysam Khodadadi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Davoud Jafari-Gharabaghlou
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Nosratollah Zarghami
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. .,Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Aydin University, Istanbul, Turkey. .,Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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8
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Integrated or Independent Actions of Metformin in Target Tissues Underlying Its Current Use and New Possible Applications in the Endocrine and Metabolic Disorder Area. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222313068. [PMID: 34884872 PMCID: PMC8658259 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222313068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Metformin is considered the first-choice drug for type 2 diabetes treatment. Actually, pleiotropic effects of metformin have been recognized, and there is evidence that this drug may have a favorable impact on health beyond its glucose-lowering activity. In summary, despite its long history, metformin is still an attractive research opportunity in the field of endocrine and metabolic diseases, age-related diseases, and cancer. To this end, its mode of action in distinct cell types is still in dispute. The aim of this work was to review the current knowledge and recent findings on the molecular mechanisms underlying the pharmacological effects of metformin in the field of metabolic and endocrine pathologies, including some endocrine tumors. Metformin is believed to act through multiple pathways that can be interconnected or work independently. Moreover, metformin effects on target tissues may be either direct or indirect, which means secondary to the actions on other tissues and consequent alterations at systemic level. Finally, as to the direct actions of metformin at cellular level, the intracellular milieu cooperates to cause differential responses to the drug between distinct cell types, despite the primary molecular targets may be the same within cells. Cellular bioenergetics can be regarded as the primary target of metformin action. Metformin can perturb the cytosolic and mitochondrial NAD/NADH ratio and the ATP/AMP ratio within cells, thus affecting enzymatic activities and metabolic and signaling pathways which depend on redox- and energy balance. In this context, the possible link between pyruvate metabolism and metformin actions is extensively discussed.
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9
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Hu D, Guo Y, Wu R, Shao T, Long J, Yu B, Wang H, Luo Y, Lu H, Zhang J, Chen YE, Peng D. New Insight Into Metformin-Induced Cholesterol-Lowering Effect Crosstalk Between Glucose and Cholesterol Homeostasis via ChREBP (Carbohydrate-Responsive Element-Binding Protein)-Mediated PCSK9 (Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9) Regulation. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2021; 41:e208-e223. [PMID: 33535788 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.120.315708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Die Hu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China (D.H., J.L., B.Y., Y.L., D.P.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (D.H., Y.G., H.W., Y.L., H.L., J.Z., Y.E.C.)
| | - Yanhong Guo
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (D.H., Y.G., H.W., Y.L., H.L., J.Z., Y.E.C.)
| | - Renrong Wu
- Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China (R.W., T.S.)
| | - Tiannan Shao
- Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China (R.W., T.S.)
| | - Junke Long
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China (D.H., J.L., B.Y., Y.L., D.P.)
| | - Bilian Yu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China (D.H., J.L., B.Y., Y.L., D.P.)
| | - Huilun Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China (D.H., J.L., B.Y., Y.L., D.P.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (D.H., Y.G., H.W., Y.L., H.L., J.Z., Y.E.C.)
| | - Yonghong Luo
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China (D.H., J.L., B.Y., Y.L., D.P.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (D.H., Y.G., H.W., Y.L., H.L., J.Z., Y.E.C.)
| | - Haocheng Lu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China (D.H., J.L., B.Y., Y.L., D.P.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (D.H., Y.G., H.W., Y.L., H.L., J.Z., Y.E.C.)
| | - Jifeng Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China (D.H., J.L., B.Y., Y.L., D.P.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (D.H., Y.G., H.W., Y.L., H.L., J.Z., Y.E.C.)
| | - Y Eugene Chen
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China (D.H., J.L., B.Y., Y.L., D.P.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (D.H., Y.G., H.W., Y.L., H.L., J.Z., Y.E.C.)
| | - Daoquan Peng
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China (D.H., J.L., B.Y., Y.L., D.P.)
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10
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Ford BE, Chachra SS, Alshawi A, Brennan A, Harnor S, Cano C, Baker DJ, Smith DM, Fairclough RJ, Agius L. Chronic glucokinase activator treatment activates liver Carbohydrate response element binding protein and improves hepatocyte ATP homeostasis during substrate challenge. Diabetes Obes Metab 2020; 22:1985-1994. [PMID: 32519798 DOI: 10.1111/dom.14111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
AIM To test the hypothesis that glucokinase activators (GKAs) induce hepatic adaptations that alter intra-hepatocyte metabolite homeostasis. METHODS C57BL/6 mice on a standard rodent diet were treated with a GKA (AZD1656) acutely or chronically. Hepatocytes were isolated from the mice after 4 or 8 weeks of treatment for analysis of cellular metabolites and gene expression in response to substrate challenge. RESULTS Acute exposure of mice to AZD1656 or a liver-selective GKA (PF-04991532), before a glucose tolerance test, or challenge of mouse hepatocytes with GKAs ex vivo induced various Carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP) target genes, including Carbohydrate response element binding protein beta isoform (ChREBP-β), Gckr and G6pc. Both glucokinase activation and ChREBP target gene induction by PF-04991532 were dependent on the chirality of the molecule, confirming a mechanism linked to glucokinase activation. Hepatocytes from mice treated with AZD1656 for 4 or 8 weeks had lower basal glucose 6-phosphate levels and improved ATP homeostasis during high substrate challenge. They also had raised basal ChREBP-β mRNA and AMPK-α mRNA (Prkaa1, Prkaa2) and progressively attenuated substrate induction of some ChREBP target genes and Prkaa1 and Prkaa2. CONCLUSIONS Chronic GKA treatment of C57BL/6 mice for 8 weeks activates liver ChREBP and improves the resilience of hepatocytes to compromised ATP homeostasis during high-substrate challenge. These changes are associated with raised mRNA levels of ChREBP-β and both catalytic subunits of AMP-activated protein kinase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian E Ford
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Shruti S Chachra
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Ahmed Alshawi
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Alfie Brennan
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Newcastle Centre for Cancer, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Suzannah Harnor
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Newcastle Centre for Cancer, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Celine Cano
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Newcastle Centre for Cancer, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - David J Baker
- Bioscience, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - David M Smith
- Emerging Innovations Unit, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Rebecca J Fairclough
- Emerging Innovations Unit, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Loranne Agius
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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11
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He S, Zhang J, Wang T, Wu P, Liu J, Li M, Ma B. The Biological Role of Optimized Recombinant Oral Long-Acting Glucagon Like Peptide-1 and Its Impact on the Expression of Genes Associated with Glucose Metabolism of Diabetes. Int J Pept Res Ther 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-020-10123-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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12
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Agius L, Ford BE, Chachra SS. The Metformin Mechanism on Gluconeogenesis and AMPK Activation: The Metabolite Perspective. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21093240. [PMID: 32375255 PMCID: PMC7247334 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21093240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Metformin therapy lowers blood glucose in type 2 diabetes by targeting various pathways including hepatic gluconeogenesis. Despite widespread clinical use of metformin the molecular mechanisms by which it inhibits gluconeogenesis either acutely through allosteric and covalent mechanisms or chronically through changes in gene expression remain debated. Proposed mechanisms include: inhibition of Complex 1; activation of AMPK; and mechanisms independent of both Complex 1 inhibition and AMPK. The activation of AMPK by metformin could be consequent to Complex 1 inhibition and raised AMP through the canonical adenine nucleotide pathway or alternatively by activation of the lysosomal AMPK pool by other mechanisms involving the aldolase substrate fructose 1,6-bisphosphate or perturbations in the lysosomal membrane. Here we review current interpretations of the effects of metformin on hepatic intermediates of the gluconeogenic and glycolytic pathway and the candidate mechanistic links to regulation of gluconeogenesis. In conditions of either glucose excess or gluconeogenic substrate excess, metformin lowers hexose monophosphates by mechanisms that are independent of AMPK-activation and most likely mediated by allosteric activation of phosphofructokinase-1 and/or inhibition of fructose bisphosphatase-1. The metabolite changes caused by metformin may also have a prominent role in counteracting G6pc gene regulation in conditions of compromised intracellular homeostasis.
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13
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Moonira T, Chachra SS, Ford BE, Marin S, Alshawi A, Adam-Primus NS, Arden C, Al-Oanzi ZH, Foretz M, Viollet B, Cascante M, Agius L. Metformin lowers glucose 6-phosphate in hepatocytes by activation of glycolysis downstream of glucose phosphorylation. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:3330-3346. [PMID: 31974165 PMCID: PMC7062158 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.012533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The chronic effects of metformin on liver gluconeogenesis involve repression of the G6pc gene, which is regulated by the carbohydrate-response element-binding protein through raised cellular intermediates of glucose metabolism. In this study we determined the candidate mechanisms by which metformin lowers glucose 6-phosphate (G6P) in mouse and rat hepatocytes challenged with high glucose or gluconeogenic precursors. Cell metformin loads in the therapeutic range lowered cell G6P but not ATP and decreased G6pc mRNA at high glucose. The G6P lowering by metformin was mimicked by a complex 1 inhibitor (rotenone) and an uncoupler (dinitrophenol) and by overexpression of mGPDH, which lowers glycerol 3-phosphate and G6P and also mimics the G6pc repression by metformin. In contrast, direct allosteric activators of AMPK (A-769662, 991, and C-13) had opposite effects from metformin on glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and cell G6P. The G6P lowering by metformin, which also occurs in hepatocytes from AMPK knockout mice, is best explained by allosteric regulation of phosphofructokinase-1 and/or fructose bisphosphatase-1, as supported by increased metabolism of [3-3H]glucose relative to [2-3H]glucose; by an increase in the lactate m2/m1 isotopolog ratio from [1,2-13C2]glucose; by lowering of glycerol 3-phosphate an allosteric inhibitor of phosphofructokinase-1; and by marked G6P elevation by selective inhibition of phosphofructokinase-1; but not by a more reduced cytoplasmic NADH/NAD redox state. We conclude that therapeutically relevant doses of metformin lower G6P in hepatocytes challenged with high glucose by stimulation of glycolysis by an AMP-activated protein kinase-independent mechanism through changes in allosteric effectors of phosphofructokinase-1 and fructose bisphosphatase-1, including AMP, Pi, and glycerol 3-phosphate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tabassum Moonira
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
| | - Shruti S Chachra
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
| | - Brian E Ford
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
| | - Silvia Marin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain; CIBEREHD and Metabolomics Node at INB-Bioinformatics Platform, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ahmed Alshawi
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
| | - Natasha S Adam-Primus
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine Arden
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
| | - Ziad H Al-Oanzi
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
| | - Marc Foretz
- INSERM, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris 75014, France; CNRS, UMR8104, Paris 75014, France; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris 75014, France
| | - Benoit Viollet
- INSERM, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris 75014, France; CNRS, UMR8104, Paris 75014, France; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris 75014, France
| | - Marta Cascante
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain; CIBEREHD and Metabolomics Node at INB-Bioinformatics Platform, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Loranne Agius
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom.
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14
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Agius L, Chachra SS, Ford BE. The Protective Role of the Carbohydrate Response Element Binding Protein in the Liver: The Metabolite Perspective. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:594041. [PMID: 33281747 PMCID: PMC7705168 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.594041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The Carbohydrate response element binding protein, ChREBP encoded by the MLXIPL gene, is a transcription factor that is expressed at high levels in the liver and has a prominent function during consumption of high-carbohydrate diets. ChREBP is activated by raised cellular levels of phosphate ester intermediates of glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and the pentose phosphate pathway. Its target genes include a wide range of enzymes and regulatory proteins, including G6pc, Gckr, Pklr, Prkaa1,2, and enzymes of lipogenesis. ChREBP activation cumulatively promotes increased disposal of phosphate ester intermediates to glucose, via glucose 6-phosphatase or to pyruvate via glycolysis with further metabolism by lipogenesis. Dietary fructose is metabolized in both the intestine and the liver and is more lipogenic than glucose. It also induces greater elevation in phosphate ester intermediates than glucose, and at high concentrations causes transient depletion of inorganic phosphate, compromised ATP homeostasis and degradation of adenine nucleotides to uric acid. ChREBP deficiency predisposes to fructose intolerance and compromised cellular phosphate ester and ATP homeostasis and thereby markedly aggravates the changes in metabolite levels caused by dietary fructose. The recent evidence that high fructose intake causes more severe hepatocyte damage in ChREBP-deficient models confirms the crucial protective role for ChREBP in maintaining intracellular phosphate homeostasis. The improved ATP homeostasis in hepatocytes isolated from mice after chronic activation of ChREBP with a glucokinase activator supports the role of ChREBP in the control of intracellular homeostasis. It is hypothesized that drugs that activate ChREBP confer a protective role in the liver particularly in compromised metabolic states.
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15
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Ding Y, Xu M, Lu Q, Wei P, Tan J, Liu R. Combination of honey with metformin enhances glucose metabolism and ameliorates hepatic and nephritic dysfunction in STZ-induced diabetic mice. Food Funct 2019; 10:7576-7587. [PMID: 31687710 DOI: 10.1039/c9fo01575b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Honey is a natural sweetener that contains a large amount of monosaccharides such as glucose and fructose, as well as small amounts of disaccharides and trisaccharides such as sucrose and pine trisaccharides. In addition to carbohydrates, honey also contains vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, and polyphenols including phenolic acids and flavonoids. The polyphenols in honey have been proved to have great antioxidant activity, besides inhibiting α-glycosidase activity and improving blood-lipid metabolism. However, whether it is safe for diabetic patients to consume honey remains controversial. This study investigated the effects of honey, metformin and their combination on the characteristic pathological changes and glucose metabolism in STZ-induced diabetic mice over five weeks. Our results showed that honey and its combination with metformin could prevent hyperglycemia, stimulate insulin secretion, reduce liver fat accumulation, attenuate liver injury and kidney damage in STZ-induced diabetic mice. Moreover, treatment with honey or combination of honey and metformin significantly enhanced glucokinase (GK) activity (p < 0.05), and meanwhile suppressed the activities of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), pyruvate carboxylase (PC) and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinases (PDK) (p < 0.05) in diabetic mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Ding
- Wuhan Engineering Research Center of Bee Products on Quality and Safety Control, Wuhan 430070, China. and College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Mingjuan Xu
- Wuhan Engineering Research Center of Bee Products on Quality and Safety Control, Wuhan 430070, China. and College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Qun Lu
- Wuhan Engineering Research Center of Bee Products on Quality and Safety Control, Wuhan 430070, China. and Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology (Huazhong Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China and College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ping Wei
- College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jun Tan
- College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Rui Liu
- Wuhan Engineering Research Center of Bee Products on Quality and Safety Control, Wuhan 430070, China. and Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology (Huazhong Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China and College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
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16
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Foretz M, Guigas B, Viollet B. Understanding the glucoregulatory mechanisms of metformin in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2019; 15:569-589. [PMID: 31439934 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-019-0242-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 335] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Despite its position as the first-line drug for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, the mechanisms underlying the plasma glucose level-lowering effects of metformin (1,1-dimethylbiguanide) still remain incompletely understood. Metformin is thought to exert its primary antidiabetic action through the suppression of hepatic glucose production. In addition, the discovery that metformin inhibits the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex 1 has placed energy metabolism and activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) at the centre of its proposed mechanism of action. However, the role of AMPK has been challenged and might only account for indirect changes in hepatic insulin sensitivity. Various mechanisms involving alterations in cellular energy charge, AMP-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase or fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 1 and modulation of the cellular redox state through direct inhibition of mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase have been proposed for the acute inhibition of gluconeogenesis by metformin. Emerging evidence suggests that metformin could improve obesity-induced meta-inflammation via direct and indirect effects on tissue-resident immune cells in metabolic organs (that is, adipose tissue, the gastrointestinal tract and the liver). Furthermore, the gastrointestinal tract also has a major role in metformin action through modulation of glucose-lowering hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 and the intestinal bile acid pool and alterations in gut microbiota composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Foretz
- INSERM, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Bruno Guigas
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Benoit Viollet
- INSERM, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France.
- CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France.
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
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17
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Abruzzese GA, Heber MF, Ferrer MJ, Ferreira SR, Silva AF, Motta AB. Effects of in utero androgen excess and metformin treatment on hepatic functions. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2019; 491:110416. [PMID: 30880153 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2019.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the role of prenatal hyperandrogenization in liver functions and the extent of metformin as treatment. Pregnant rats were hyperandrogenized with subcutaneous testosterone (1mg/rat) between 16 and 19 of pregnancy. Prenatally hyperandrogenized (PH) female offspring displayed, at the adult life, two phenotypes; a PH irregular ovulatory phenotype (PHiov) and a PH anovulatory (PHanov) phenotype. From day 70 to the moment of sacrifice (90 days of age), 50% of the animals of each group received a daily oral dose of 50 mg/kg of metformin. We found that both PH phenotypes displayed a hepatic disruptions of insulin and glucose pathway and that metformin treatment reversed some of these alterations in a specific-phenotype manner. Our findings show, for the first time, that androgen excess in utero promotes hepatic dysfunctions and that metformin treatment is able to specifically reverse those hepatic alterations and sheds light on the possible mechanisms of metformin action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giselle Adriana Abruzzese
- Laboratorio de Fisio-patología Ovárica, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Paraguay 2155, CP1121, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Florencia Heber
- Laboratorio de Fisio-patología Ovárica, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Paraguay 2155, CP1121, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María José Ferrer
- Laboratorio de Fisio-patología Ovárica, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Paraguay 2155, CP1121, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvana Rocío Ferreira
- Laboratorio de Fisio-patología Ovárica, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Paraguay 2155, CP1121, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Aimé Florencia Silva
- Laboratorio de Fisio-patología Ovárica, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Paraguay 2155, CP1121, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alicia Beatriz Motta
- Laboratorio de Fisio-patología Ovárica, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Paraguay 2155, CP1121, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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18
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Glossmann HH, Lutz OMD. Commentary: Lactate-Induced Glucose Output Is Unchanged by Metformin at a Therapeutic Concentration-A Mass Spectrometry Imaging Study of the Perfused Rat Liver. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:90. [PMID: 30837871 PMCID: PMC6389785 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hartmut H Glossmann
- Institute for Biochemical Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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19
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Alshawi A, Agius L. Low metformin causes a more oxidized mitochondrial NADH/NAD redox state in hepatocytes and inhibits gluconeogenesis by a redox-independent mechanism. J Biol Chem 2018; 294:2839-2853. [PMID: 30591586 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.006670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2018] [Revised: 12/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms by which metformin (dimethylbiguanide) inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis at concentrations relevant for type 2 diabetes therapy remain debated. Two proposed mechanisms are 1) inhibition of mitochondrial Complex 1 with consequent compromised ATP and AMP homeostasis or 2) inhibition of mitochondrial glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (mGPDH) and thereby attenuated transfer of reducing equivalents from the cytoplasm to mitochondria, resulting in a raised lactate/pyruvate ratio and redox-dependent inhibition of gluconeogenesis from reduced but not oxidized substrates. Here, we show that metformin has a biphasic effect on the mitochondrial NADH/NAD redox state in mouse hepatocytes. A low cell dose of metformin (therapeutic equivalent: <2 nmol/mg) caused a more oxidized mitochondrial NADH/NAD state and an increase in lactate/pyruvate ratio, whereas a higher metformin dose (≥5 nmol/mg) caused a more reduced mitochondrial NADH/NAD state similar to Complex 1 inhibition by rotenone. The low metformin dose inhibited gluconeogenesis from both oxidized (dihydroxyacetone) and reduced (xylitol) substrates by preferential partitioning of substrate toward glycolysis by a redox-independent mechanism that is best explained by allosteric regulation at phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK1) and/or fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (FBP1) in association with a decrease in cell glycerol 3-phosphate, an inhibitor of PFK1, rather than by inhibition of transfer of reducing equivalents. We conclude that at a low pharmacological load, the metformin effects on the lactate/pyruvate ratio and glucose production are explained by attenuation of transmitochondrial electrogenic transport mechanisms with consequent compromised malate-aspartate shuttle and changes in allosteric effectors of PFK1 and FBP1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Alshawi
- From the Institute of Cellular Medicine, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom and.,the Kufa Institute, Clinical Pathology Department, Al-Furat AL-Awsat Technical University, Kufa, Iraq
| | - Loranne Agius
- From the Institute of Cellular Medicine, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom and
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20
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Cameron AR, Logie L, Patel K, Erhardt S, Bacon S, Middleton P, Harthill J, Forteath C, Coats JT, Kerr C, Curry H, Stewart D, Sakamoto K, Repiščák P, Paterson MJ, Hassinen I, McDougall G, Rena G. Metformin selectively targets redox control of complex I energy transduction. Redox Biol 2018; 14:187-197. [PMID: 28942196 PMCID: PMC5609876 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2017.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Many guanide-containing drugs are antihyperglycaemic but most exhibit toxicity, to the extent that only the biguanide metformin has enjoyed sustained clinical use. Here, we have isolated unique mitochondrial redox control properties of metformin that are likely to account for this difference. In primary hepatocytes and H4IIE hepatoma cells we found that antihyperglycaemic diguanides DG5-DG10 and the biguanide phenformin were up to 1000-fold more potent than metformin on cell signalling responses, gluconeogenic promoter expression and hepatocyte glucose production. Each drug inhibited cellular oxygen consumption similarly but there were marked differences in other respects. All diguanides and phenformin but not metformin inhibited NADH oxidation in submitochondrial particles, indicative of complex I inhibition, which also corresponded closely with dehydrogenase activity in living cells measured by WST-1. Consistent with these findings, in isolated mitochondria, DG8 but not metformin caused the NADH/NAD+ couple to become more reduced over time and mitochondrial deterioration ensued, suggesting direct inhibition of complex I and mitochondrial toxicity of DG8. In contrast, metformin exerted a selective oxidation of the mitochondrial NADH/NAD+ couple, without triggering mitochondrial deterioration. Together, our results suggest that metformin suppresses energy transduction by selectively inducing a state in complex I where redox and proton transfer domains are no longer efficiently coupled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy R Cameron
- Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK
| | - Lisa Logie
- Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK
| | - Kashyap Patel
- Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK; MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Stefan Erhardt
- Institute of Chemical Sciences, School of Engineering & Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK
| | - Sandra Bacon
- Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK; Environmental and Biochemical Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, Scotland, UK
| | - Paul Middleton
- Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK; Environmental and Biochemical Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, Scotland, UK
| | - Jean Harthill
- Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK
| | - Calum Forteath
- Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK
| | - Josh T Coats
- Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK; Environmental and Biochemical Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, Scotland, UK
| | - Calum Kerr
- Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK; Environmental and Biochemical Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, Scotland, UK
| | - Heather Curry
- Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK; Environmental and Biochemical Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, Scotland, UK
| | - Derek Stewart
- Environmental and Biochemical Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, Scotland, UK; Institute of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Kei Sakamoto
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Peter Repiščák
- Institute of Chemical Sciences, School of Engineering & Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK
| | - Martin J Paterson
- Institute of Chemical Sciences, School of Engineering & Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK
| | - Ilmo Hassinen
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Gordon McDougall
- Environmental and Biochemical Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, Scotland, UK
| | - Graham Rena
- Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK.
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