title: Metformin retards aging in C. elegans by altering microbial folate and methionine metabolism.
abstract: The biguanide drug metformin is widely prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, but its mode of action remains uncertain. Metformin also increases lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans cocultured with Escherichia coli. This bacterium exerts complex nutritional and pathogenic effects on its nematode predator/host that impact health and aging. We report that metformin increases lifespan by altering microbial folate and methionine metabolism. Alterations in metformin-induced longevity by mutation of worm methionine synthase (metr-1) and S-adenosylmethionine synthase (sams-1) imply metformin-induced methionine restriction in the host, consistent with action of this drug as a dietary restriction mimetic. Metformin increases or decreases worm lifespan, depending on E. coli strain metformin sensitivity and glucose concentration. In mammals, the intestinal microbiome influences host metabolism, including development of metabolic disease. Thus, metformin-induced alteration of microbial metabolism could contribute to therapeutic efficacy-and also to its side effects, which include folate deficiency and gastrointestinal upset.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Healthy Ageing, and G.E.E., University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Filipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cabreiro
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Au
authors.forename: Kit-Yi
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vergara-Irigaray
authors.forename: Helena M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Cochemé
authors.forename: Tahereh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noori
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weinkove
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: Nicholas D E
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gems
mesh_terms: D000263:Adenylate Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001645:Biguanides / Q000378:metabolism; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008136:Longevity / Q000187:drug effects*; D054892:Metagenome; D008687:Metformin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008715:Methionine / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001645:Biguanides; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D014157:Transcription Factors; C073702:skn-1 protein, C elegans; D008687:Metformin; D005492:Folic Acid; D008715:Methionine; D000263:Adenylate Kinase
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