Context-Dependent Pharmacological Effects of Metformin on the Immune System.
Trends Pharmacol Sci
; 41(3): 162-171, 2020 03.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32033771
ABSTRACT
Metformin is used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and has shown therapeutic effects in preclinical models of other pathologies, such as cancer and autoimmune diseases. The antitumor activity of metformin is due, in part, to immunostimulatory effects. In the context of other pathologies, such as autoimmune or inflammatory diseases, metformin has immunosuppressive effects. There is evidence that the immunostimulatory effects of metformin are indirect. The immunosuppressive effects of metformin in other pathologies appear to be a direct consequence of its action on immune cells. Based on these observations we opine that the pharmacology of metformin is dependent on the pathological context which, to our knowledge, is a novel concept in pharmacology.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
/
Metformin
/
Neoplasms
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Trends Pharmacol Sci
Year:
2020
Document type:
Article