Metformin improves tendon degeneration by blocking translocation of HMGB1 and suppressing tendon inflammation and senescence in aging mice

Zhang, Jianying; Brown, Roshawn; Hogan, MaCalus V.; Onishi, Kentaro; Wang, James H.-C.

Affiliations

¹MechanoBiology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

²Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

³Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Abstract and keywords

This study aimed to characterize aging-induced tendinopathy in mouse Achilles tendon and also to assess the treatment effects of metformin (Met) on aging tendon. We showed that compared to young tendon, aging tendon was in an inflammatory and senescent state as shown by increased expression of inflammatory disulfide HMGB1 (dsHMGB1), inflammatory macrophage marker CD68, and senescent cell markers SA-β-gal, p53, and p16. Moreover, aging tendon was degenerated marked by accumulation of proteoglycans and lipids in its interior. However, treatment of aging tendon by intraperitoneal (IP) injection of Met, a specific inhibitor of HMGB1, reduced dsHMGB1 levels, decreased the expression of CD68, SA-β-gal, CCN1, and p16 in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, Met treatment also increased the number of NS, SSEA-1, and CD73 positive stem cells in culture and improved the tendon structure in aging mouse. These findings of this study indicate that Met exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-senescent effects on aging tendon.

Keywords: aging; degeneration; HMGB1; inflammation; metformin; senescence; tendon

Links

DOI: 10.1002/jor.25470

PubMed: 36262012

WoS: 000879600500001

History

Received: 2022-02-27

Revised: 2022-08-29

Accepted: 2022-10-18