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Metformin alleviates hyperglycemia-induced apoptosis and differentiation suppression in osteoblasts through
Lifeng Zheng1, Ximei Shen2, Junjian Ye1
1Department of Orthopedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, Fujian, China.
Aims:
Metformin was found to protect against hyperglycemia-induced injury in osteoblasts, but the cellular mechanisms involved remain unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of metformin on hyperglycemia-induced apoptosis and differentiation suppression in osteoblasts and to explore its relationships with the TLR4 signaling pathway.
Main Methods:
A mouse osteoblast cell line, MC3T3-E1, and a diabetic rat model were used to survey the protective effects of metformin on hyperglycemia-induced injury. TLR4 expression was altered using small interfering (si)RNA and lentivirus-mediated TLR4 overexpression. LPS was used as a specific TLR4 activator, and CLI-095 was used as a TLR4 inhibitor.
Key Findings:
Metformin improved osteoblast differentiation, reduced apoptosis in hyperglycemic osteoblasts, and inhibited TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB expression in a dose-dependent manner. Down-regulating the expression or inhibiting the activity of TLR4 enhanced these protective effects of metformin on osteoblast differentiation, cell viability and cell apoptosis in hyperglycemic conditions, whereas up-regulating the expression or activating the activity of TLR4 had the opposite effects. Activating NF-κB suppressed the protective effects of metformin, while inhibiting NF-κB activity had the opposite effects. Metformin increased ALP and OCN secretion, enhanced BMP-2 expression, improved bone mineral density (BMD), and decreased TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB levels in the femur tissues of diabetic rats.
Significance:
Taken together our experimentation support the hypothesis that metformin may alleviate hyperglycemia-induced apoptosis and differentiation suppression in osteoblasts by inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Insights
Metformin protects osteoblasts from high blood sugar by inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway, improving bone health in diabetic rats. This research clarifies metformin
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Cell Biology
- Bone Biology
Background:
- Hyperglycemia impairs osteoblast function, leading to bone injury.
- The precise cellular mechanisms underlying metformin's protective effects are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate metformin's impact on hyperglycemia-induced osteoblast apoptosis and differentiation suppression.
- To elucidate the role of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway in metformin's action.
Main Methods:
- Utilized MC3T3-E1 mouse osteoblast cell line and a diabetic rat model.
- Manipulated TLR4 expression via siRNA and lentiviral vectors.
- Employed lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a TLR4 activator and CLI-095 as a TLR4 inhibitor.
Main Results:
- Metformin dose-dependently improved osteoblast differentiation and reduced apoptosis in hyperglycemic conditions.
- Metformin inhibited the expression of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB.
- Modulating TLR4 and NF-κB activity confirmed their involvement in metformin's protective effects on osteoblasts.
- In diabetic rats, metformin enhanced bone mineral density and reduced TLR4 pathway markers in femur tissues.
Conclusions:
- Metformin alleviates hyperglycemia-induced osteoblast apoptosis and differentiation suppression.
- The protective mechanism involves the inhibition of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.
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