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Updated: Jun 10, 2025

Isolation, Expansion, and Adipogenic Induction of CD34+CD31+ Endothelial Cells from Human Omental and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue
Published on: July 17, 2018
In Vitro Treatment with Metformin Significantly Reduces Senescent B Cells Present in the Adipose Tissue of People
Maria Romero1, Andrew Gelsomini1, Kate Miller1
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States.
Background:
Our previous work has shown that senescent B cells accumulate in the human adipose tissue (AT) of people with obesity, where they express transcripts for markers associated with the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and secrete multiple inflammatory mediators. These functions of AT-derived B cells are metabolically supported.
Objectives:
To show that Metformin (MET), a widely used hypoglycemic and antidiabetic drug, is able at least in vitro to decrease frequencies, secretory profile, and metabolic requirements of senescent B cells isolated from the AT of people with obesity.
Methods:
We recruited adult females with obesity (n = 8, age 40 ± 2 y, BMI range: 33-42) undergoing breast reduction surgery, who donated their discarded subcutaneous AT. B cells from stromal vascular fractions isolated after collagenase digestion of the AT were evaluated after in vitro incubation with MET (1 mM × 106 B cells) or with a control medium without MET for the following measures: expression of transcripts for SASP-associated markers (p16INK4a and p21CIP1/WAF1) measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR); secretion of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ and IL-17A) measured by a Cytometric Bead Array); metabolic characteristics as identified by a glycolytic test and Seahorse technology, and by the expression of transcripts for glucose transporters and metabolic enzymes involved in glucose metabolic pathways, measured by qPCR. To examine differences between MET-treated compared with untreated groups, paired Student's t tests (two-tailed) were employed.
Results:
MET in vitro was able to reduce frequencies and numbers of senescent B cells, as identified by staining with β-galactosidase, as well as the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, the expression of transcripts for SASP, and metabolic markers that support intrinsic B cell inflammation.
Conclusions:
Our results provide evidence to support the beneficial effects of MET in reducing AT-related inflammation through its effects on senescent B cells.

