ArticleStem cell research & therapy2020
Metformin alleviates muscle wasting post-thermal injury by increasing Pax7-positive muscle progenitor cells.
Article in Stem cell research & therapy, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers.
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The trial behind it
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Who cites it
19 citing papers in PubMed, 33 citations in OpenAlex.
- Trial
- Short-term exposure to a clinical dose of metformin increases skeletal muscle mitochondrial HExperimental gerontology · 2022Trial
- Metformin promotes healthspan by attenuating frailty and preserving musculoskeletal function-structure in middle-aged mice.Biogerontology · 2026Article
- A small molecule strategy with forskolin and p38 inhibitor for serum-free muscle stem cell expansion.NPJ science of food · 2026Article
- Beyond diabetes: harnessing the power of metformin in burn care.Critical care (London, England) · 2025Review
- Nutritional and metabolic modulation of inflammation in critically ill patients: a narrative review of rationale, evidence and grey areas.Annals of intensive care · 2024Review
- Establishing Predictors of Acute Sarcopenia: A Proof-Of-Concept Study Utilising Network Analysis.Aging and disease · 2024Observational
- Update on Hypermetabolism in Pediatric Burn Patients.Seminars in plastic surgery · 2024Review
- Metformin-loaded PLGA microspheres combined with an in situ-formed injectable SA/BG hydrogel alleviate rotator cuff muscle degeneration.Materials today. Bio · 2023Article
- Metformin Pre-Treatment as a Means of Mitigating Disuse-Induced Rat Soleus Muscle Wasting.Current issues in molecular biology · 2023Article
- Article
- Spinal Irisin Gene Delivery Attenuates Burn Injury-Induced Muscle Atrophy by Promoting Axonal Myelination and Innervation of Neuromuscular Junctions.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Article
- Metformin's Mechanisms in Attenuating Hallmarks of Aging and Age-Related Disease.Aging and disease · 2022Article
- Metformin and leucine increase satellite cells and collagen remodeling during disuse and recovery in aged muscle.FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology · 2021Article
- Burn-induced hypermetabolism and skeletal muscle dysfunction.American journal of physiology. Cell physiology · 2021Review
- Short-term metformin ingestion by healthy older adults improves myoblast function.American journal of physiology. Cell physiology · 2021Article
- Effect of metformin on stem cells: Molecular mechanism and clinical prospect.World journal of stem cells · 2020Review
- PGC-1α-Targeted Therapeutic Approaches to Enhance Muscle Recovery in Aging.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Review
- Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness: Not just Another Muscle Atrophying Condition.International journal of molecular sciences · 2020Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundProfound skeletal muscle wasting and weakness is common after severe burn and persists for years after injury contributing to morbidity and mortality of burn patients. Currently, no ideal treatment exists to inhibit muscle catabolism. Metformin is an anti-diabetic agent that manages hyperglycemia but has also been shown to have a beneficial effect on stem cells after injury. We hypothesize that metformin administration will increase protein synthesis in the skeletal muscle by increasing the proliferation of muscle progenitor cells, thus mitigating muscle atrophy post-burn injury.
methodsTo determine whether metformin can attenuate muscle catabolism following burn injury, we utilized a 30% total burn surface area (TBSA) full-thickness scald burn in mice and compared burn injuries with and without metformin treatment. We examined the gastrocnemius muscle at 7 and 14 days post-burn injury.
resultsAt 7 days, burn injury significantly reduced myofiber cross-sectional area (CSA) compared to sham, p < 0.05. Metformin treatment significantly attenuated muscle catabolism and preserved muscle CSA at the sham size. To investigate metformin's effect on satellite cells (muscle progenitors), we examined changes in Pax7, a transcription factor regulating the proliferation of muscle progenitors. Burned animals treated with metformin had a significant increase in Pax7 protein level and the number of Pax7-positive cells at 7 days post-burn, p < 0.05. Moreover, through BrdU proliferation assay, we show that metformin treatment increased the proliferation of satellite cells at 7 days post-burn injury, p < 0.05.
conclusionIn summary, metformin's various metabolic effects and its modulation of stem cells make it an attractive alternative to mitigate burn-induced muscle wasting while also managing hyperglycemia.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.