Metformin, an AMPK Activator, Inhibits Activation of FLSs but Promotes HAPLN1 Secretion

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is essential for maintaining energy balance and has a crucial role in various inflammatory pathways. In this study, AMPK levels positively correlated with many inflammatory indexes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, especially in the affected synovium. In RA sera, a positive correlation between phosphorylated (p-)AMPK-α1 levels and DAS28 (disease activity score 28) activity (r = 0.270, p < 0.0001) was found. Similarly, a positive correlation was observed between AMPK-α1 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) levels (r = 0.460, p = 0.0002). Differentially expressed genes between osteoarthritis (OA) and RA synovium from NCBI GEO profiles and our RNA sequencing data suggested activation of metabolic pathways specific to RA-fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). AMPK-α1 was highly expressed in the synovium of RA but not OA patients. An AMPK activator, metformin, inhibited FLS proliferation at higher but not lower concentrations, whereas the inhibitor dorsomorphin promoted the proliferation of RA-FLSs. Interestingly, both metformin and dorsomorphin inhibited the migration of RA-FLSs. After metformin treatment, expression of interleukin 6 (IL-6), TNF-α, and IL-1β were significantly downregulated in RA-FLSs; however, increased expression of p-AMPK-α1, protein kinase A (PKA)-α1, and HAPLN1 (hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1) was observed. Increased levels of HAPLN1 in RA-FLSs by an AMPK activator could potentially be beneficial in protecting the joints. Hence, our results demonstrate the potential of an AMPK activator as a therapeutic for RA.