Effect of Metformin on Development of Tendinopathy Due to Mechanical Overloading in an Animal Model

Tendinopathy is a debilitating tendon disorder that affects millions of Americans and costs billions of health care dollars every year. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a known tissue damage signaling molecule, has been identified as a mediator in the development of tendinopathy due to mechanical overloading of tendons in mice. Metformin (Met), a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, specifically inhibits HMGB1. This study tested the hypothesis that Met would prevent mechanical overloading-induced tendinopathy in a mouse model of tendinopathy created by intensive treadmill running (ITR).

Inhibition of HMGB1 by injections of Met prevented tendinopathy development due to mechanical overloading in the Achilles tendon in mice. Clinical relevance: Met may be able to be repurposed as a therapeutic option for preventing the development of tendinopathy in high-risk patients.

C57BL/6J mice (female, 3 months old) were equally separated into 4 groups and treated for 24 weeks as follows: group 1 had cage control activities, group 2 received a single intraperitoneal injection of Met (50 mg/kg body weight) daily, group 3 underwent ITR to induce tendinopathy, and group 4 received daily Met injection along with ITR to inhibit HMGB1. Tendinopathic changes were assessed in Achilles tendons of all mice using histology, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

ITR induced HMGB1 release into the tendon matrix and developed characteristics of tendinopathy as evidenced by the expression of macrophage marker CD68, proinflammatory molecules (COX-2, PGE2), cell morphological changes from normal elongated cells to round cells, high levels of expression of chondrogenic markers (SOX-9, collagen type II), and accumulation of proteoglycans in tendinopathic tendons. Daily injection of Met inhibited HMGB1 release and decreased these degenerative changes in ITR tendons. Conclusions: Inhibition of HMGB1 by injections of Met prevented tendinopathy development due to mechanical overloading in the Achilles tendon in mice. Clinical relevance: Met may be able to be repurposed as a therapeutic option for preventing the development of tendinopathy in high-risk patients.