Effect of metformin on insulin-resistant endothelial cell function

  • Authors:
    • Haiyan Chen
    • Jie Li
    • Ou Yang
    • Jian Kong
    • Guangzhu Lin
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 16, 2015     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2015.2883
  • Pages: 1149-1153
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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of metformin on the function of insulin‑resistant (IR) endothelial cells. A model of IR endothelial cells was established by incubating cells with 30 mM glucose, 1 µM dexamethasone and various concentrations of insulin. The nitric oxide (NO) content of the endothelial cells was determined by measuring the rate of nitroreductase production; the endothelin (ET) concentration was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; and the expression levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were detected using western blotting. The optimal conditions for inducing insulin resistance in endothelial cells were a combination treatment of 10‑4 mmol/l insulin, 30 mM glucose and 1 µM dexamethasone for 48 h. Notably, metformin administration significantly increased the NO content and reduced the ET‑1 concentration in the IR cells compared with the non‑treated control cells (P<0.05); furthermore, metformin significantly increased the intracellular eNOS protein expression in IR endothelial cells compared with the non‑treated control cells (P<0.05), with an optimal metformin concentration of 10‑3 mmol/l. Thus, the present study identified that metformin improves the function of IR endothelial cells, possibly through promoting eNOS protein expression and increasing the NO content.
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March-2015
Volume 9 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Chen H, Li J, Yang O, Kong J and Lin G: Effect of metformin on insulin-resistant endothelial cell function. Oncol Lett 9: 1149-1153, 2015
APA
Chen, H., Li, J., Yang, O., Kong, J., & Lin, G. (2015). Effect of metformin on insulin-resistant endothelial cell function. Oncology Letters, 9, 1149-1153. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2015.2883
MLA
Chen, H., Li, J., Yang, O., Kong, J., Lin, G."Effect of metformin on insulin-resistant endothelial cell function". Oncology Letters 9.3 (2015): 1149-1153.
Chicago
Chen, H., Li, J., Yang, O., Kong, J., Lin, G."Effect of metformin on insulin-resistant endothelial cell function". Oncology Letters 9, no. 3 (2015): 1149-1153. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2015.2883