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Greene E, Green CL, Hurst J, MacIver NJ. Metformin use associated with lower rate of hospitalization for influenza in individuals with diabetes. Diabetes Obes Metab 2024; 26:3281-3289. [PMID: 38742467 DOI: 10.1111/dom.15655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
AIM To investigate if patients with diabetes taking metformin have better outcomes versus those not taking metformin following an emergency room visit for influenza. METHODS Using electronic medical records, we performed a retrospective chart review of all adult patients with a diagnosis of diabetes seen in any Duke University Medical Center-affiliated emergency department for influenza over a 6-year period. We documented patient characteristics and comorbidities, and compared outcomes for patients taking metformin versus patients not taking metformin using both univariable and multivariable analyses. Our primary outcome was hospital admission rate. Secondary outcomes were in-hospital length of stay and in-hospital death. RESULTS Our cohort included 1023 adult patients with diabetes, of whom 59.9% were female. The mean age was 62.9 years, 58.4% were African American, 36.1% were White, and 81.9% were obese or overweight. Of these patients, 347 (34%) were taking metformin. Patients with diabetes taking metformin were less likely to be hospitalized following an emergency department visit for influenza than patients with diabetes not taking metformin (56.8% vs. 70.1%; p < 0.001). Of those patients admitted, there was no statistically significant difference in length of stay or death. CONCLUSIONS In patients with diabetes, metformin use is associated with lower rate of hospitalization following an emergency department visit for influenza.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Greene
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Cynthia L Green
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jillian Hurst
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nancie J MacIver
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Rajeev D, MacIver NJ. Metformin as a Therapeutic Agent for Obesity-Associated Immune Dysfunction. J Nutr 2024:S0022-3166(24)00381-X. [PMID: 38972391 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.07.001] [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: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Obesity is associated with impaired immune function, characterized by inflammation, and leading to poor response to infection, impaired vaccine response, increased susceptibility to autoimmune disease, and increased risk of cancer and cancer mortality. Worse, there is evidence that weight loss alone may be insufficient to reverse the immune dysfunction caused by obesity. It is therefore critically important to identify alternative therapeutic approaches to decrease the negative effects of obesity-associated inflammation. In this article, we will review evidence that the antidiabetic drug metformin may be considered as a therapeutic agent for obesity-associated immune dysfunction. Metformin has immunomodulatory effects, stimulating or suppressing the immune response in both a cell-specific and disease-specific manner. Although the mechanism of action of metformin on the immune system remains to be fully elucidated, there is strong evidence that metformin enters select immune cells and disrupts electron transport, leading to both AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-dependent and AMPK-independent effects on immune cell differentiation and cytokine production. These effects of metformin on immune cells have been shown to improve immune responses to infection, autoimmunity, and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devika Rajeev
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Nancie J MacIver
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
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Joshi G, Das A, Verma G, Guchhait P. Viral infection and host immune response in diabetes. IUBMB Life 2024; 76:242-266. [PMID: 38063433 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2794] [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: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2024]
Abstract
Diabetes, a chronic metabolic disorder disrupting blood sugar regulation, has emerged as a prominent silent pandemic. Uncontrolled diabetes predisposes an individual to develop fatal complications like cardiovascular disorders, kidney damage, and neuropathies and aggravates the severity of treatable infections. Escalating cases of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes correlate with a global upswing in diabetes-linked mortality. As a growing global concern with limited preventive interventions, diabetes necessitates extensive research to mitigate its healthcare burden and assist ailing patients. An altered immune system exacerbated by chronic hyperinflammation heightens the susceptibility of diabetic individuals to microbial infections, including notable viruses like SARS-CoV-2, dengue, and influenza. Given such a scenario, we scrutinized the literature and compiled molecular pathways and signaling cascades related to immune compartments in diabetics that escalate the severity associated with the above-mentioned viral infections in them as compared to healthy individuals. The pathogenesis of these viral infections that trigger diabetes compromises both innate and adaptive immune functions and pre-existing diabetes also leads to heightened disease severity. Lastly, this review succinctly outlines available treatments for diabetics, which may hold promise as preventive or supportive measures to effectively combat these viral infections in the former.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garima Joshi
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, National Capital Region Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Anushka Das
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, National Capital Region Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Garima Verma
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, National Capital Region Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Prasenjit Guchhait
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, National Capital Region Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
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Martin DE, Cadar AN, Bartley JM. Old drug, new tricks: the utility of metformin in infection and vaccination responses to influenza and SARS-CoV-2 in older adults. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2023; 4:1272336. [PMID: 37886013 PMCID: PMC10598609 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2023.1272336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
In the face of global pathogens such as influenza (flu) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), strategies beyond standard vaccines and virus-specific treatments are critically needed for older populations who are more susceptible to severe disease and death from these infections due to age-related immune dysregulation. Thus, complimentary therapeutics are needed to address the increased risk of complications and death in older adults. Metformin, an FDA approved diabetes drug, is an attractive therapeutic candidate to improve immune defenses and resilience in older adults facing viral challenge. Metformin is already a candidate anti-aging drug, but its benefits have potential to span beyond this and improve specific immune responses. Metformin can target multiple aging hallmarks as well as directly impact innate and adaptive immune cell subsets. Both retrospective and prospective studies have demonstrated metformin's efficacy in improving outcomes after SARS-CoV-2 or flu infections. Moreover, evidence from clinical trials has also suggested that metformin treatment can improve vaccination responses. In totality, these findings suggest that metformin can improve age-related declines in immunological resilience. Strategies to improve outcomes after infection or improve vaccine-induced protection are invaluable for older adults. Moreover, the ability to repurpose an already FDA approved drug has significant advantages in terms of necessary time and resources. Thus, metformin has great potential as a therapeutic to improve age-related immune dysregulation during flu and SARS-CoV-2 infections and should be further explored to confirm its ability to improve overall immunological resilience in older adults.
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Erickson SM, Fenno SL, Barzilai N, Kuchel G, Bartley JM, Justice JN, Buse JB, Bramante CT. Metformin for Treatment of Acute COVID-19: Systematic Review of Clinical Trial Data Against SARS-CoV-2. Diabetes Care 2023; 46:1432-1442. [PMID: 37339345 PMCID: PMC10300519 DOI: 10.2337/dc22-2539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Observational and preclinical data suggest metformin may prevent severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes. PURPOSE We conducted a systematic review of randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials of metformin treatment for COVID-19 to determine whether metformin affects clinical or laboratory outcomes in individuals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and present a structured summary of preclinical data. STUDY SELECTION Two independent reviewers searched PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register, and ClinicalTrials.gov on 1 February 2023 with no date restrictions for trials where investigators randomized adults with COVID-19 to metformin versus control and assessed clinical and/or laboratory outcomes of interest. The Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool was used to assess bias. DATA EXTRACTION Two reviewers extracted data pertaining to prespecified outcomes of each interest from each included trial. DATA SYNTHESIS The synthesis plan was developed a priori and was guided by Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) guidelines. Summary tables and narrative synthesis were used (PROSPERO, 2022, CRD42022349896). Three randomized trials met inclusion criteria. In two of the trials investigators found that metformin improved clinical outcomes (prevented need for oxygen and prevented need for acute health care use), and in the third trial a larger portion of adults with diabetes were enrolled but results did show a direction of benefit similar to that of the other trials in the per-protocol group. In the largest trial, subjects were enrolled during the delta and omicron waves and vaccinated individuals were included. The certainty of evidence that metformin prevents health care use due to COVID-19 was moderate per Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria. Many preclinical studies have shown metformin to be effective against SARS-CoV-2. LIMITATIONS Limitations include inclusion of only three trials and heterogeneity between trials. CONCLUSIONS Future trials will help define the role of metformin in COVID-19 treatment guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nir Barzilai
- Institute for Aging Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
| | - George Kuchel
- UConn Center on Aging, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT
| | - Jenna M. Bartley
- UConn Center on Aging, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT
| | - Jamie Nicole Justice
- Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer’s Prevention, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - John B. Buse
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Carolyn T. Bramante
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
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Foretz M, Guigas B, Viollet B. Metformin: update on mechanisms of action and repurposing potential. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2023:10.1038/s41574-023-00833-4. [PMID: 37130947 PMCID: PMC10153049 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-023-00833-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 105.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Currently, metformin is the first-line medication to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in most guidelines and is used daily by >200 million patients. Surprisingly, the mechanisms underlying its therapeutic action are complex and are still not fully understood. Early evidence highlighted the liver as the major organ involved in the effect of metformin on reducing blood levels of glucose. However, increasing evidence points towards other sites of action that might also have an important role, including the gastrointestinal tract, the gut microbial communities and the tissue-resident immune cells. At the molecular level, it seems that the mechanisms of action vary depending on the dose of metformin used and duration of treatment. Initial studies have shown that metformin targets hepatic mitochondria; however, the identification of a novel target at low concentrations of metformin at the lysosome surface might reveal a new mechanism of action. Based on the efficacy and safety records in T2DM, attention has been given to the repurposing of metformin as part of adjunct therapy for the treatment of cancer, age-related diseases, inflammatory diseases and COVID-19. In this Review, we highlight the latest advances in our understanding of the mechanisms of action of metformin and discuss potential emerging novel therapeutic uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Foretz
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Bruno Guigas
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Benoit Viollet
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Cochin, Paris, France.
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Goto M, Perencevich EN. Metformin and Infections: What Is the Next Step in This Decades-Long Story? Clin Infect Dis 2022; 76:1245-1246. [PMID: 36560871 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Michihiko Goto
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Eli N Perencevich
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
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