Open AccessMetformin Beyond Diabetes: Pleiotropic Benefits of Metformin in Attenuation of Atherosclerosis
Author(s) -
Forouzandeh Farshad,
Salazar Gloria,
Patrushev Nikolay,
Xiong Shiqin,
Hilenski Lula,
Fei Baowei,
Alexander R. Wayne
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of the american heart association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.494
H-Index - 85
ISSN - 2047-9980
DOI - 10.1161/jaha.114.001202
Subject(s) - medicine , metformin , diabetes mellitus , type 2 diabetes , pharmacology , endocrinology , cardiology
Background Clinical studies show that metformin attenuates all‐cause mortality and myocardial infarction compared with other medications for type 2 diabetes, even at similar glycemic levels. However, there is paucity of data in the euglycemic state on the vasculoprotective effects of metformin. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the effects of metformin on ameliorating atherosclerosis. Methods and Results Using ApoE −/− C57BL/6J mice, we found that metformin attenuates atherosclerosis and vascular senescence in mice fed a high‐fat diet and prevents the upregulation of angiotensin II type 1 receptor by a high‐fat diet in the aortas of mice. Thus, considering the known deleterious effects of angiotensin II mediated by angiotensin II type 1 receptor, the vascular benefits of metformin may be mediated, at least in part, by angiotensin II type 1 receptor downregulation. Moreover, we found that metformin can cause weight loss without hypoglycemia. We also found that metformin increases the antioxidant superoxide dismutase‐1. Conclusion Pleiotropic effects of metformin ameliorate atherosclerosis and vascular senescence.