Metformin inhibits HMGB1 release in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells and increases survival rate of endotoxaemic mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Recently, metformin, a well-known anti-diabetic drug, has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory activities. This study investigated the effect of metformin on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated animals and cells.

Experimental approach

We investigated whether metformin inhibits the release of HMGB1 in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells and increases survival rate in endotoxaemic mice (lethal endotoxaemia was induced by an i.p. injection of LPS). This was achieved by a range of techniques including Western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, specific pharmacological inhibitors, knock out of α(1) -subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and recombinant HMG

SUBMITTER: Tsoyi K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3057288 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature