Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39331598›Full record

ArticlePloS one2024

Metformin lotion promotes scarless skin tissue formation through AMPK activation, TGF-β1 inhibition, and reduced myofibroblast numbers.

Jianying Zhang, Kengo Shimozaki, Soichi Hattori, Vasyl Pastukh, Derek Maloney, MaCalus V Hogan, James H-C Wang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Jianying ZhangMechanoBiology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America.
Kengo ShimozakiMechanoBiology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America.
Soichi HattoriMechanoBiology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America.
Vasyl PastukhMechanoBiology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America.ORCID 0000-0002-9854-8212
Derek MaloneyMechanoBiology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America.ORCID 0000-0002-1825-3757
MaCalus V HoganMechanoBiology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America.
James H-C WangMechanoBiology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America.ORCID 0000-0001-7279-0679

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Scar tissue formation following skin wound healing is a challenging public health problem. Skin regeneration and preventing the formation of scar tissue by currently available commercial products are largely ineffective. This study aimed to test the efficacy of a novel topical metformin lotion (ML) in inhibiting scar tissue formation during skin wound healing in rats and to determine the mechanisms of action involved. A 6% ML was prepared in our laboratory. A skin wound healing model in rats was used. The wounded rats were divided into two groups and treated daily for 10 days as follows: Group 1 received a daily application of 50 mg of control lotion, or 0% ML (totaling 100 mg of lotion per rat), and Group 2 received a daily application of 50 mg of 6% ML (totaling 100 mg of 6% ML per rat). Blood samples from the heart of each rat were analyzed for inflammatory markers, HMGB1 and IL-1β, using ELISA, and immunological and histological analyses were performed on skin tissue sections. ML decreased levels of inflammatory markers HMGB1 and IL-1β in the serum of rats and inhibited the release of HMGB1 from cell nuclei into the skin tissue matrix. Additionally, ML demonstrated anti-fibrotic properties by enhancing AMPK activity, decreasing the expression of TGF-β1, reducing the number of myofibroblasts, decreasing the production of collagen III, and increasing the expression of collagen I. ML promotes the regeneration of high-quality skin during wound healing by reducing scar tissue formation. This effect is mediated through the activation of AMPK, inhibition of TGF-β1, and a decrease in the number of myofibroblasts.

Indexed as

AMP-Activated Protein KinasesCicatrixMetforminMyofibroblastsSkinTransforming Growth Factor beta1Wound HealingAnimalsHMGB1 ProteinInterleukin-1betaMaleRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyAMP-Activated Protein KinasesHbp1 protein, ratHMGB1 ProteinInterleukin-1betaMetforminTransforming Growth Factor beta1

Identifiers

PMID39331598
PMCPMC11433050

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Registered trials

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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.