The alleviative effects of metformin for lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury rat model and its underlying mechanism

Xiangcheng Zhang; Futai Shang; Liangliang Hui; Kui Zang; Gengyun Sun

doi:10.1016/j.jsps.2017.05.001

The alleviative effects of metformin for lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury rat model and its underlying mechanism

Saudi Pharm J. 2017 May;25(4):666-670. doi: 10.1016/j.jsps.2017.05.001. Epub 2017 May 10.

Authors

Xiangcheng Zhang^{1

2}, Futai Shang², Liangliang Hui², Kui Zang², Gengyun Sun³

Affiliations

¹ Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
² Department of ICU, Huai'an First People's Hospital, Huai'an 223300, China.
³ Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.

Abstract

For patients who have sepsis, acute lung injury (ALI) causes most of death. Metformin (Met) is an anti-hyperglycemic agent and it has extensive pharmacological properties. This study aimed to analyze the influence of Met on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) -induced ALI. Met (1, 2, and 4 mg/kg) were injected and LPS was injected 30 min later. The data suggested Met can reduce release of inflammatory cytokines and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) protein expression, reduce lung wet/dry ratio, and significantly improve LPS-induced lung destruction during ALI. In addition, Met inhibits LPS-induced neutrophil and macrophage infiltration, reduces MPO activity, and promotes AMPK-α1 expression in lung tissues. Our data suggested that metformin alleviates capillary injury during ALI via AMPK-α1.

Keywords: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; Metformin; Sepsis.