Metformin sensitizes human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells to tamo-xifen through down-regulation of c-Myc

AIM: To investigate whether metformin enhances the sensitivity of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells to tamoxifen by down-regulating c-Myc. METHODS: The cell viability, colony formation, apoptosis, and migration and invasion abilities of MDA-MB-231 cells were detected by CCK-8 assay, colony formation experiment, flow cytometry and Transwell assay. The expression level of c-Myc was quantified by Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. The antitumor effects of metformin and tamoxifen were investigated in vivo in a MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer xenograft model in the SCID mice. RESULTS: Metformin in combination with tamoxifen exerted synergistic effects on inhibition of the viability, colony formation, migration and invasion, and induced the apoptosis compared with the controls and either agent treatment alone in the MDA-MB-231 cells. The levels of c-Myc was down-regulated in vitro by treatment with metformin and/or tamoxifen (P<0.01). Moreover, metformin or in combination with tamoxifen also reduced the growth of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer tumors in the SCID mice by down-regulation of c-Myc in vivo. CONCLUSION: Metformin in combination with tamoxifen exerts synergistic effects on inhibition of the proliferation, migration, invasion and tumor growth of human triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells by down-regulating c-Myc expression, suggesting that metformin in combination with tamoxifen merits further evaluation as a target.     

Metformin对蛋鸡AMPK活性及脂质代谢的短期效应研究

为了研究双胍药类Mefformin短期内对蛋鸡AMPK活性的影响,研究选用日龄、体重及产蛋率相近的产蛋高峰期新罗曼蛋鸡40只,随机分为4个处理组,每个处理5个重复,每个重复2只鸡,对照组蛋鸡采食不合Mefformin的基础饲粮,分别在另外3组蛋鸡基础饲粮中添加0.6%、0.8%、1.0%Metformin.试验结果表明:不同浓度的Metformin处理呈剂量效应性地显著降低蛋鸡的采食量;肝脏AMPK基础生理活性比卵巢AMPK活性高46.89%(P=0.124),0.6%、0.8%、1.0%Mefformin组蛋鸡肝脏AMPK活性分别增加了13.83%(P=0.216)、25.90%(P=0.162)、31.10%(P=0.170);血清三酰甘油(TG)、极低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(VLDL-C)受1.0%Mefformin处理影响最大,分别下降了27.10%(P=0.256)、26.75%(P=0.220);各处理组蛋鸡卵泡胆固醇含量均显著或极显著地低于对照组(P＜0.05或P＜0.01),且随Metformin浓度的增加呈剂量依赖性地降低.结果说明0.6%～1.0%Mefforrain提高了蛋鸡肝脏AMPK活性,并降低了蛋鸡血清脂质合成产物及不同发育程度卵泡胆固醇的含量.     

Effect of metformin combined with paclitaxel on apoptosis and AMPK signaling in human breast cancer cells

AIM:To investigate the effect of metformin combined with paclitaxel on the viability and apoptosis of breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and its possible mechanism. METHODS:MCF-7 cells were treated with metformin at different concentrations (2, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 mmol/L) and in vitro cultured. The viability of MCF-7 cells was measured by MTT assay. Metformin at 2 mmol/L or paclitaxel at 2.4 mg/L alone or in combination was used to treat the cells, and compound C, an inhibitor of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling transduction pathway, was also used. The cells were divided into control group, metformin group, paclitaxel group, combination group, and combination +compound C group. The apoptosis of the cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 at mRNA and protein levels was determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot. The protein levels of AMPK and P21 were examined by Western blot. RESULTS:Metformin at different concentrations (2, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 mmol/L) significantly inhibited the cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.05). Compared with control group, treatment with metformin at 2 mmol/L or paclitaxel at 2.4 mg/L alone or in combination significantly inhibited the cell viability, induced apoptosis (P<0.05), decreased the level of Bcl-2 (P<0.05), increased the levels of Bax and caspase-3 (P<0.05), and promoted the protein expression of AMPK and P21 (P<0.05). The effects of metformin and paclitaxel in combination were better than those of single drug treatment, while AMPK inhibitor weaken these effects. CONCLUSION:Metformin combined with paclitaxel inhibits the viability and induces the apoptosis of breast cancer MCF-7 cells by activating AMPK signaling pathway and regulating apoptosis signaling pathway.     

Effects of metformin on pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats

AIM: To study the effects of metformin on the pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats. METHODS: Transverse aortic constriction (TAC) model of rat was made through laparotomy. One week after TAC surgery, the rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=8 in each group) and were administered with the corresponding drugs orally every day for 8 weeks: sham group (sham surgery, administered with 2 mL distilled water); TAC group (TAC rats, administered with 2 mL distilled water); metformin (MET) group (TAC rats, administered with MET at dose of 300 mg·kg^-1·d^-1); MN group [TAC rats, administered with MET at dose of 300 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 plus NOS inhibitor, N^G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) 50 mg·kg^-1·d^-1] and L-NAME group (TAC rats, administered with L-NAME at dose of 50 mg·kg^-1·d^-1). After treated for 8 weeks, the echocardiography, hemodynamics, the ratio of heart weight to body weight (HW/BW) and histological examination of the heart were performed. The levels of myocardial AMP-activated protein kinase subunit α (AMPKα), p-AMPKα Thr172, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and p-eNOS Ser1177 were detected by Western blotting. Plasma and myocardial nitric oxide (NO) were detected biochemically. RESULTS: After 8 weeks treatment, the wall thickness of left ventricle, the heart weight/body weight ratio (HW/BW), and the left ventricular myocardial perivascular fibrosis and myocardial interstitial fibrosis of the animals in TAC group were significantly increased as compared to those in sham rats. Treatment with MET for 8 weeks significantly attenuated left ventricular hypertrophy and improved cardiac function in TAC rats. These effects of MET were mostly abolished by L-NAME. Molecular biology and biochemical testing revealed that the levels of left ventricular myocardial p-AMPKα Thr172 and p-eNOS Ser1177, as well as the levels of myocardial and serum NO were significantly increased in MET group. CONCLUSION: Long-term MET treatment significantly inhibits the cardiac hypertrophy and the myocardial fibrosis and improves the cardiac functions in pressure-overload rats. The anti-hypertrophic effects of MET may be mediated via activation of AMPK-eNOS signaling pathway.     

盐酸二甲双胍对蛋鸡肝脏AMPK活性和鸡蛋胆固醇含量的影响

试验选取日龄、体重、产蛋率相近的新罗曼蛋鸡50只,分为5个处理,即对照组(不含盐酸二甲双胍),0.6%、0.8%和1%的盐酸二甲双胍的试验组和采食量按0.8%盐酸二甲双胍给予的配对组,试验期21d。结果表明:与对照组相比,蛋鸡日粮中添加0.6%、0.8%、1.0%盐酸二甲双胍,使蛋鸡肝脏腺苷一磷酸激活的蛋白激酶(AMPK)的活性分别提高了24.3(%P>0.05)、52.6(%P<0.01)、57.6(%P<0.01),0.8%盐酸二甲双胍配对组AMPK活性升高幅度远不及0.8%盐酸二甲双胍组,活性仅提高14.0(%P>0.05);同时降低了-β羟基--β甲基戊二酸单酰辅酶A还原酶(HMGR)、乙酰辅酶A羧化酶(ACC)的活性;降低了血清中胆固醇、甘油三酯、极低密度脂蛋白-胆固醇的含量;降低了肝脏中胆固醇和甘油三酯的含量;降低了鸡蛋中胆固醇的含量。     

Effects of metformin combined with Ge Xia Zhu Yu decoction on TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in rats with polycystic ovary and insulin resis-tance

AIM: To study the effect of metformin (Met) combinated with Ge Xia Zhu Yu decoction on Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in the rats with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and insulin resistance induced by dehydroepiandrosterone, and to explore the mechanisms. METHODS: PCOS rats (after induced by dehydroepiandrosterone, n=110) were randomly divided into 3 groups:model group (30 rats), Met treatment group (40 rats) and Met combinated with Ge Xia Zhu Yu decoction treatment (combination) group (40 rats). The rats in model group were given the same volume of 0.9% sodium chloride daily by gavage. The rats in Met group were given Met (270 mg·kg^-1·d^-1) by gavage. The rats in combination group were given Met (270 mg·kg^-1·d^-1) and Ge Xia Zhu Yu decoction (34.5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1) by gavage. All rats were continuously intervened for 28 d. After the intervention, blood glucose[fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (2hPBG)] was measured. The mRNA expression levels of follicular epithelial NF-κB, TLR-4 and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) were detected by RT-PCR. The serum levels of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were also detected by ELISA. RESULTS: After the intervention, FPG, 2hPBG, and serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α and CRP in Met group and combination group were lower than those in model group (P<0.05), and those in combination group were lower than those in Met group (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the mRNA expression levels of follicular epithelial NF-κB, TLR-4 and ox-LDL in Met group and combination group were lower than those in model group (P<0.05), and those in combination group were lower than those in Met group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Treatment with Met combined with Ge Xia Zhu Yu decoction improves insulin resistance in PCOS rats by decreasing the levels of inflammatory factors in serum and epithelial cells of ovary and inhibiting the expression of NF-κB, TLR-4 and ox-LDL in epithelial tissue of ovary.     

Metformin attenuates nerve injury in stroke rats by regulating SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway via miR-29c

AIM To explore the inhibitory effect of metformin （MET） on nerve injury in rats with stroke and its mechanism. METHODS SD rats were randomly divided into sham group （n=15）, model group （n=30）, MET group （n=30）, MET+agomir-NC group （n=30） and MET+agomir group （n=30）. The modified Puisinelli four-vessel occlusion method was used to prepare the model of global ischemic stroke, while the blood vessels in sham rats were isolated without clamping the common artery. One week before modeling, the rats in MET group, MET+agomir-NC group and MET+agomir group were given intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 MET, 100 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 MET+40 nmol/d agomir-NC, 100 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 MET+40 nmol/d miR-29c agomir, respectively, and the rats in sham group and model group were given intraperitoneal injection of the same amount of normal saline. Each treatment in the above groups was given once a day, 0.2 mL each time, for 7 consecutive days. The neurological deficit scores were measured 24, 48 and 72 h after operation. HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of the hippocampus, and the living neurons were counted. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression level of miR-29c, and the mRNA levels of silent information regulator 1 （SIRT1） and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α （PGC-1α） in hippocampus. The protein expression levels of SIRT1 and PGC-1α were determined by Western blot. RESULTS At the same time point, compared with model group, the neurological deficit score in MET group was significantly decreased, and the survival rate of the neurons was significantly increased （P<0.05）. Compared with MET+agomir-NC group, the neurological deficit score in MET+agomir group was increased, and the survival rate of the neurons was significantly decreased （P<0.05）. With the prolongation of time, except for sham group, the neurological deficit score was increased and the survival rate of the neurons was decreased. At 72 h after operation, compared with sham group, the expression of miR-29c in hippocampus of model group was significantly increased, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of SIRT1 and PGC-1α were significantly decreased （P<0.05）. Compared with model group, the expression of miR-29c in hippocampus of MET group was significantly decreased, and the expression of SIRT1 and PGC-1α at mRNA and protein levels was significantly increased （P< 0.05）. Compared with MET+agomir-NC group, the expression of miR-29c in hippocampus of MET+agomir group was significantly increased, and the mRNA and protein expression of SIRT1 and PGC-1α was significantly decreased （P<0.05）. CONCLUSIONS MET alleviates nerve injury in stroke rats, which may be related to down-regulation of miR-29c and promotion of SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway activation.     

二甲双胍对鸡巨噬细胞HD11天然免疫相关基因表达影响及其抗禽白血病病毒能力分析

本研究旨在探讨二甲双胍(metformin)处理对鸡巨噬细胞HD11天然免疫相关基因表达及禽白血病病毒(Avian leukosisvirus,ALV)复制水平的影响。用2mmol/L二甲双胍处理鸡巨噬细胞HD11,处理48h后收集细胞,荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)检测天然免疫基因和内源性反转录病毒的表达。另外,将J亚群禽白血病病毒(J subgroup Avian leukosis virus,ALV-J)(MOI=5)接种于细胞板中,病毒感染细胞24 h后进行二甲双胍处理, 48 h后收集HD11细胞和上清分别进行RT-qPCR检测和ELISA(enzyme linked immunosorbent assay)检测。结果表明,二甲双胍显著上调HD11细胞天然免疫相关基因TLR3(P<0.01)、IFIH1(P<0.01)、IRF7(P<0.01)、STAT1(P<0.05)、IFN-α(P<0.01)、IFN-β(P<0.01)表达水平,并激活了鸡内源性反转录病毒的表达,抑制ALV-J复制水平。综上,二甲双胍可激活鸡巨噬细胞的天然免疫反应,从而提高鸡抗禽白血病病毒的能力。本研究在体外实验中验证二甲双胍具有抑制ALV增殖的作用,对家禽业的疾病防控有一定的应用价值。     

Inhibitory effect of metformin on alveolar epithelial-mesenchymal transition in lung tissue of rats with pulmonary fibrosis

AIM: To study the inhibitory effect of metformin on alveolar epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in rats with pulmonary fibrosis and the possible mechanism. METHODS: SD rats (n=48) were used, 12 of which were set up as normal control group, and 36 of which were induced by bleomycin (5 mg/kg) by tracheal instillation to establish pulmonary fibrosis. The pulmonary fibrosis rats were randomly divided into bleomycin group, low dose (100 mg/kg) of metformin group, and high dose (300 mg/kg) of metformin group. The rats in metformin groups were given the corresponding dose of metformin daily for 4 weeks. HE staining and Masson staining were used to observe the changes of lung histopathology and collagen deposition. Real-time PCR, Western blot and innunohistochemical staining were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), E-cadherin, vimentin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), collagen I, collagen III and transforming growth factor-β₁ (TGF-β₁), and the protein phosphorylation levels of Smad2/3 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) were also determined. RESULTS: Metformin up-regulated the expression of E-cadherin and ZO-1, down-regulated the expression of α-SMA, vimentin, collagen I and collagen III, and the protein phosphorylation levels of Smad2/3 and ERK1/2 were also decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Metformin inhibits alveolar EMT in the rats with pulmonary fibrosis, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of TGF-β₁ signal transduction pathway.