Effect of metformin against hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in human vascular endothelial cells

Metformin is an anti-diabetic drug, which may be a novel therapeutic option for treatment of atherosclerosis. The current study evaluates protective capacity of metformin in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Endothelial cells were treated with metformin for 24 h. Then they were treated with 0.5 mM H2O2 for 2h. Cell viability was measured by 3‑(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5‑diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured using 2, 7 dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) assay. Lipid peroxidation (LPO), total thiol groups and total antioxidant power (TAP) were also evaluated.

Metformin at concentration of 20 μM increased survival of HUVECs exposed to H2O2. ROS and MDA levels increased in H2O2-treated endothelial cells. Metformin could significantly decrease H2O2-induced ROS and MDA elevation. It also increased total thiol groups and TAP.

Metformin protects HUVECs against the oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by H2O2.