title: [Effect of Metformin on Proliferation, Differentiation and Apoptosis of THP-1 Cells].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of metformin on proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of THP-1 cells and explore its possible mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  THP-1 cells were cultured with different concentrations of metformin for 24 h and 48 h. The cell proliferation was evaluated by CCK-8, the cell apoptosis was analyzed by Annexin V/7-AAD double labeling, the expression of CD14 and CD11b (surface differentiation antigens on THP-1 cells) was evaluated by flow cytometry, the BCL-XL, BAX, BIM and caspase-3 mRNA expressions of THP-1 cells were detected by real time quantitative PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Metformin could significantly inhibit the growth of THP-1 cells in a time- and dose- dependent manner. After treated with 20 mmol/L metformin for 24 h, the expressions of CD14 and CD11b in THP-1 cells didn't change much (P>0.05), the early apoptosis rates in exprimental and control groups were (2.02±0.85)% and (4.46±1.33)% respectively, the late apoptosis rates in experimental and control groups were (1.43±0.83)% and (3.31±0.59)% respectively. In process of inducing effect of 20 mmol/L metformin on THP-1 cells, the expressions of BCL-XL and BIM did not significantly changed, while the expressions of BAX and caspase-3 significantly increased (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metformin can effectively inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of THP-1 cells. However, it has no significant effect on differentiation of THP-1 cells, its mechanism inducing apoptosis maybe related with up-regulating BAX and caspase-3.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Dian-An
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Fan-Jing
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Medical Technological Institute of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Xu-Guang
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu Province, China. E-mai: zimu05067@163.com.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D008687:Metformin
chemical_list: D008687:Metformin; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3