title: Exenatide and metformin express their anti-inflammatory effects on human monocytes/macrophages by the attenuation of MAPKs and NFκB signaling.
abstract: Metformin and exenatide are effective antidiabetic drugs, and they seem to have pleiotropic properties improving cardiovascular outcomes. Macrophages' phenotype is essential in the development of atherosclerosis, and it can be modified during antidiabetic therapy, resulting in attenuated atherogenesis. The mechanism orchestrating this phenomenon is not fully clear. We examined the impact of exenatide and metformin on the level of TNF alpha, MCP-1, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (C/EBP beta) in human monocytes/macrophages. We found that both drugs reduced levels of TNF alpha, ROS, and NFκB binding activity to a similar extent. Compared to metformin, exenatide was more effective in reducing MCP-1 levels. We noted that Compound C (AMPK inhibitor) reduced the impact of exenatide on cytokines, ROS, and NFκB in cultures. Both drugs elevated the C/EBP beta phosphorylation level. Experiments on MAPKs showed effective inhibitory potential of exenatide toward p38, JNK, and ERK, whereas metformin inhibited JNK and ERK only. Exenatide was more effective in the inhibition of JNK than metformin. Interestingly, an in vitro setting additive effect of drugs was absent. In conclusion, here, we report that metformin and exenatide inhibit the proinflammatory phenotype of human monocytes/macrophages via influence on MAPK, C/EBP beta, and NFκB. Exenatide was more effective than metformin in reducing MCP-1 expression and JNK activity. We also showed that some effects of exenatide relied on AMPK activation. This shed light on the possible mechanisms responsible for pleiotropic effects of metformin and exenatide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medykow 18, 40-752, Katowice, Poland. lbuldak@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Łukasz
authors.initials: Ł
authors.lastname: Bułdak
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medykow 18, 40-752, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Machnik
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Jordana 19, 41-808, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Rafał Jakub
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bułdak
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medykow 18, 40-752, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Łabuzek
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medykow 18, 40-752, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bołdys
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Medykow 18, 40-752, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Bogusław
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Okopień
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D000077270:Exenatide; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010641:Phenotype; D010766:Phosphorylation; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014688:Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta; C111835:CCL2 protein, human; C545012:CEBPB protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010455:Peptides; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014688:Venoms; D008687:Metformin; D000077270:Exenatide; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: Exenatide; MAPK; Macrophage; Metformin; NFκB