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Barsotti GC, Luciano R, Kumar A, Meliambro K, Kakade V, Tokita J, Naik A, Fu J, Peck E, Pell J, Reghuvaran A, Tanvir E, Patel P, Zhang W, Li F, Moeckel G, Perincheri S, Cantley L, Moledina DG, Wilson FP, He JC, Menon MC. Rationale and Design of a Phase 2, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Trial Evaluating AMP Kinase-Activation by Metformin in Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis. Kidney Int Rep 2024; 9:1354-1368. [PMID: 38707807 PMCID: PMC11068976 DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2024.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), the most common primary glomerular disease leading to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), is characterized by podocyte injury and depletion, whereas minimal change disease (MCD) has better outcomes despite podocyte injury. Identifying mechanisms capable of preventing podocytopenia during injury could transform FSGS to an "MCD-like" state. Preclinical data have reported conversion of an MCD-like injury to one with podocytopenia and FSGS by inhibition of AMP-kinase (AMPK) in podocytes. Conversely, in FSGS, AMPK-activation using metformin (MF) mitigated podocytopenia and azotemia. Observational studies also support beneficial effects of MF on proteinuria and chronic kidney disease (CKD) outcomes in diabetes. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test MF in podocyte injury with FSGS has not yet been conducted. Methods We report the rationale and design of phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT evaluating the efficacy and safety of MF as adjunctive therapy in FSGS. By randomizing 30 patients with biopsy-confirmed FSGS to MF or placebo (along with standard immunosuppression), we will study mechanistic biomarkers that correlate with podocyte injury or depletion and evaluate outcomes after 6 months. We specifically integrate novel urine, blood, and tissue markers as surrogates for FSGS progression along with unbiased profiling strategies. Results and Conclusion Our phase 2 trial will provide insight into the potential efficacy and safety of MF as adjunctive therapy in FSGS-a crucial step to developing a larger phase 3 study. The mechanistic assays here will guide the design of other FSGS trials and contribute to understanding AMPK activation as a potential therapeutic target in FSGS. By repurposing an inexpensive agent, our results will have implications for FSGS treatment in resource-poor settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel C. Barsotti
- Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Randy Luciano
- Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Ashwani Kumar
- Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Kristin Meliambro
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Vijayakumar Kakade
- Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Joji Tokita
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Abhijit Naik
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jia Fu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Elizabeth Peck
- Clinical Research Coordinator, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - John Pell
- Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Anand Reghuvaran
- Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - E.M. Tanvir
- Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Prashant Patel
- Investigational Drug Service, Department of Pharmacy Services, Yale New Haven Hospital, Connecticut, USA
| | - Weijia Zhang
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Gilbert Moeckel
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sudhir Perincheri
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Lloyd Cantley
- Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Dennis G. Moledina
- Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - F. Perry Wilson
- Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - John C. He
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Madhav C. Menon
- Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Zhang X, Sun C, Hao J, Cao L, Zhang X, Du J, Han Q. Metformin inhibits EV71‑induced pyroptosis by upregulating DEP domain‑containing mTOR‑interacting protein. Exp Ther Med 2023; 26:388. [PMID: 37456175 PMCID: PMC10347180 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2023.12087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection is one of the main causes of severe hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), which is usually accompanied by a marked inflammatory response. The excessive inflammatory response has been implicated to serve an important role in EV71-caused HFMD. Pyroptosis is a type of inflammatory programmed cell death. Therefore, a novel treatment strategy against EV71 infection could aim to alleviate the inflammatory response through inhibition of EV71-induced pyroptosis. The present study revealed that metformin had this therapeutic potential. A cell model of EV71 infection was established, cell viability was measured by CCK8 assay, cell damage was measured by LDH release kit, and the dead and dying cells were excluded by propidium iodide staining. The intracellular levels of DEP domain-containing mTOR interacting protein (DEPTOR) and pyroptosis-associated molecules were measured by western blot analysis, the NLRP3 expression was assessed by immunofluorescence labeling, and virus titers in cell culture supernatants were determined by a cell culture infectious dose 50 assay. The results demonstrated that EV71 infection could induce pyroptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and metformin could inhibit EV71-induced pyroptosis. The mechanism of metformin inhibiting EV71-induced pyroptosis was explored next. Subsequent experiments indicated that metformin could increase the levels of DEPTOR, which were decreased by EV71. Finally, overexpression of DEPTOR in cells could reduce EV71-induced pyroptosis. Overall, the present study demonstrated that metformin could exert a novel pharmacodynamic anti-pyroptosis effect in the treatment of EV71 infection by upregulating DEPTOR expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine of Fenyang College, Shanxi Medical University, Fenyang, Shanxi 032200, P.R. China
| | - Chenxi Sun
- Department of Laboratory Medicine of Fenyang College, Shanxi Medical University, Fenyang, Shanxi 032200, P.R. China
- Graduate School, Fenyang Hospital Provincial and Municipal Joint Construction Key Laboratory, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, P.R. China
| | - Jinfang Hao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine of Fenyang College, Shanxi Medical University, Fenyang, Shanxi 032200, P.R. China
- Graduate School, Fenyang Hospital Provincial and Municipal Joint Construction Key Laboratory, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, P.R. China
| | - Li Cao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine of Fenyang College, Shanxi Medical University, Fenyang, Shanxi 032200, P.R. China
- Graduate School, Fenyang Hospital Provincial and Municipal Joint Construction Key Laboratory, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, P.R. China
| | - Xinyan Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine of Fenyang College, Shanxi Medical University, Fenyang, Shanxi 032200, P.R. China
- Graduate School, Fenyang Hospital Provincial and Municipal Joint Construction Key Laboratory, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, P.R. China
| | - Jianping Du
- Department of Laboratory Medicine of Fenyang College, Shanxi Medical University, Fenyang, Shanxi 032200, P.R. China
- Graduate School, Fenyang Hospital Provincial and Municipal Joint Construction Key Laboratory, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, P.R. China
| | - Qian Han
- Department of Laboratory Medicine of Fenyang College, Shanxi Medical University, Fenyang, Shanxi 032200, P.R. China
- Graduate School, Fenyang Hospital Provincial and Municipal Joint Construction Key Laboratory, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, P.R. China
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Hurley DJ, Irnaten M, O’Brien C. Metformin and Glaucoma-Review of Anti-Fibrotic Processes and Bioenergetics. Cells 2021; 10:cells10082131. [PMID: 34440899 PMCID: PMC8394782 DOI: 10.3390/cells10082131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness globally. With an aging population, disease incidence will rise with an enormous societal and economic burden. The treatment strategy revolves around targeting intraocular pressure, the principle modifiable risk factor, to slow progression of disease. However, there is a clear unmet clinical need to find a novel therapeutic approach that targets and halts the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration that occurs with fibrosis. RGCs are highly sensitive to metabolic fluctuations as a result of multiple stressors and thus their viability depends on healthy mitochondrial functioning. Metformin, known for its use in type 2 diabetes, has come to the forefront of medical research in multiple organ systems. Its use was recently associated with a 25% reduced risk of glaucoma in a large population study. Here, we discuss its application to glaucoma therapy, highlighting its effect on fibrotic signalling pathways, mitochondrial bioenergetics and NAD oxidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daire J. Hurley
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Eccles Street, D07 R2WY Dublin, Ireland; (M.I.); (C.O.)
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
- Correspondence:
| | - Mustapha Irnaten
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Eccles Street, D07 R2WY Dublin, Ireland; (M.I.); (C.O.)
| | - Colm O’Brien
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Eccles Street, D07 R2WY Dublin, Ireland; (M.I.); (C.O.)
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
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Use of Anti-Diabetic Agents in Non-Diabetic Kidney Disease: From Bench to Bedside. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11050389. [PMID: 33923115 PMCID: PMC8146249 DOI: 10.3390/life11050389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
New drugs were recently developed to treat hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). However, metformin remains the first-line anti-diabetic agent because of its cost-effectiveness. It has pleiotropic action that produces cardiovascular benefits, and it can be useful in diabetic nephropathy, although metformin-associated lactic acidosis is a hindrance to its use in patients with kidney failure. New anti-diabetic agents, including glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, and sodium-glucose transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, also produce cardiovascular or renal benefits in T2D patients. Their glucose-independent beneficial actions can lead to cardiorenal protection via hemodynamic stabilization and inflammatory modulation. Systemic hypertension is relieved by natriuresis and improved vascular dysfunction. Enhanced tubuloglomerular feedback can be restored by SGLT-2 inhibition, reducing glomerular hypertension. Patients with non-diabetic kidney disease might also benefit from those drugs because hypertension, proteinuria, oxidative stress, and inflammation are common factors in the progression of kidney disease, irrespective of the presence of diabetes. In various animal models of non-diabetic kidney disease, metformin, GLP-1R agonists, DPP-4 inhibitors, and SGLT-2 inhibitors were favorable to kidney morphology and function. They strikingly attenuated biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in diseased kidneys. However, whether those animal results translate to patients with non-diabetic kidney disease has yet to be evaluated. Considering the paucity of new agents to treat kidney disease and the minimal adverse effects of metformin, GLP-1R agonists, DPP-4 inhibitors, and SGLT-2 inhibitors, these anti-diabetic agents could be used in patients with non-diabetic kidney disease. This paper provides a rationale for clinical trials that apply metformin, GLP-1R agonists, DPP-4 inhibitors, and SGLT-2 inhibitors to non-diabetic kidney disease.
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