Title:Metformin, A New Era for an Old Drug in the Treatment of Immune Mediated Disease?
Volume: 19
Issue: 8
Author(s): Mark Schuiveling, Nadia Vazirpanah, Timothy R.D.J. Radstake, Maili Zimmermann* Jasper C.A. Broen*
Affiliation:
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Laboratory of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht,Netherlands
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Laboratory of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht,Netherlands
Keywords:
Metformin, inflammation, auto-immune disease, macrophages, T lymphocytes, neutrophils, SLE, RA.
Abstract: Background: Metformin, a widely prescribed blood glucose normalizing antidiabetic drug,
is now beginning to receive increasing attention due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Objective:To provide a critical and comprehensive review of the available literature describing the effects
of metformin on the immune system and on auto-inflammatory diseases.
Results:Based on the available scientific literature, metformin suppresses immune responses mainly
through its direct effect on the cellular functions of various immune cell types by induction of AMPK
and subsequent inhibition of mTORC1, and by inhibition of mitochondrial ROS production. Among
key immune events, this results in inhibited monocyte to macrophage differentiation and restrained inflammatory
capacity of activated macrophages. In addition, metformin treatment increases differentiation
of T cells into both regulatory and memory T cells, as well as decreasing the capacity of neutrophils
to commence in NETosis. Due to its inhibitory effect on the proinflammatory phenotype of immune
cells, metformin seems to reduce auto-immune disease burden not only in several animal models,
but has also shown beneficial results in some human trials.
Conclusions: Based on its immunomodulatory properties and high tolerability as a drug, metformin is
an interesting add-on drug for future trials in treatment of immune mediated inflammatory diseases.