Conclusions
Our results here showed that metformin could regulate the differentiation of EPCs. Autophagy related pathway and AMPK-eNOS-NO pathway were involved in the mechanisms.
Methods
EPCs were treated with metformin and differentiation, migration and tube formation of EPCs were evaluated. Moreover, we also assessed the AMPK-mTOR-p70S6K pathway, AMPK related autophagy pathway and eNOS-NO pathway to explore the mechanisms.
Objective
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of metformin on endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) differentiation and the possible mechanisms.
Results
Metformin treatment could significantly increase differentiation of EPCs. On the mechanisms, increased level of AMPKand eNOS phosphorylation, LC3 expression and NO production, and decreased mTOR, p70 S6K as well as TGF-β expression were found in EPCs. The AMPK inhibitor compound C, Atg5 knocking-down and eNOS inhibitor l-NAME could reverse the effect exerted by metformin. Conclusions: Our results here showed that metformin could regulate the differentiation of EPCs. Autophagy related pathway and AMPK-eNOS-NO pathway were involved in the mechanisms.