The effect of metformin on the metabolism of human vascular smooth muscle cells in high glucose conditions.

Abstract

Metformin is widely used in type 2 diabetic patients as an antihyperglycemic drug. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of metformin on the metabolism of vascular smooth muscle cells in high glucose conditions. The vascular smooth muscle cells were cultured in DMEM F12 containing glucose as high as 25mM. The preconditioned cells were then treated with metformin in doses of 1, 5, and 7mM for 24h. MTT method was used to determine cell viability. Biochemical parameters including lactate, glucose, total protein, creatinine, and triglyceride were measured in the cell culture after the treatment with metformin. Oil Red O staining method was used to stain the lipids in the cells. Metformin reduced significantly (p<0.001) VSMC proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. With the increase of glucose uptake by VSMCs, the cell lipid deposition was not changed. Other biochemical parameters such as lactate, triglyceride, total protein, and creatinine were significantly changed in the cell culture (p<0.05). Metformin increased the glucose uptake impacting metabolic pathways in VSMCs. It also increased the lactate efflux and protein metabolism without the change in cellular lipid deposition in high glucose conditions.