Effects of Metformin on Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury: New Evidence and Mechanisms

Estefanie Osorio-Llanes, Advanced Biomedicine Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Libre de Colombia, Seccional Barranquilla, Barranquilla 081001, Colombia.
Wendy Villamizar-Villamizar, Advanced Biomedicine Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Libre de Colombia, Seccional Barranquilla, Barranquilla 081001, Colombia.
María Clara Ospino Guerra, Advanced Biomedicine Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Libre de Colombia, Seccional Barranquilla, Barranquilla 081001, Colombia.
Luis Antonio Díaz-Ariza, Advanced Biomedicine Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Libre de Colombia, Seccional Barranquilla, Barranquilla 081001, Colombia.
Sara Camila Castiblanco-Arroyave, Advanced Biomedicine Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Libre de Colombia, Seccional Barranquilla, Barranquilla 081001, Colombia.
Luz Medrano, Healthcare Pharmacy and Pharmacology Research Group, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla 081007, Colombia.
Daniela Mengual, Healthcare Pharmacy and Pharmacology Research Group, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla 081007, Colombia.
Ricardo Belón, Advanced Biomedicine Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Libre de Colombia, Seccional Barranquilla, Barranquilla 081001, Colombia.
Jairo Castellar-López, Advanced Biomedicine Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Libre de Colombia, Seccional Barranquilla, Barranquilla 081001, Colombia.
Yanireth Sepúlveda, Allied Research Society S.A.S., Barranquilla 080001, Colombia.
César Vásquez-Trincado, Escuela de Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 8370134, Chile.
Aileen Y. Chang, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Foggy Bottom Campus, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA.
Samir Bolívar, Healthcare Pharmacy and Pharmacology Research Group, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla 081007, Colombia.
Evelyn Mendoza-Torres, Advanced Biomedicine Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Libre de Colombia, Seccional Barranquilla, Barranquilla 081001, Colombia.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

8-9-2023

Journal

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Volume

16

Issue

8

DOI

10.3390/ph16081121

Keywords

cardioprotection; cardiovascular diseases; heart; ischemia-reperfusion; metformin

Abstract

The search for new drugs with the potential to ensure therapeutic success in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases has become an essential pathway to follow for health organizations and committees around the world. In June 2021, the World Health Organization listed cardiovascular diseases as one of the main causes of death worldwide, representing 32% of them. The most common is coronary artery disease, which causes the death of cardiomyocytes, the cells responsible for cardiac contractility, through ischemia and subsequent reperfusion, which leads to heart failure in the medium and short term. Metformin is one of the most-used drugs for the control of diabetes, which has shown effects beyond the control of hyperglycemia. Some of these effects are mediated by the regulation of cellular energy metabolism, inhibiting apoptosis, reduction of cell death through regulation of autophagy and reduction of mitochondrial dysfunction with further reduction of oxidative stress. This suggests that metformin may attenuate left ventricular dysfunction induced by myocardial ischemia; preclinical and clinical trials have shown promising results, particularly in the setting of acute myocardial infarction. This is a review of the molecular and pharmacological mechanisms of the cardioprotective effects of metformin during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Department

Medicine

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